| Committee for Conflict Transformation Support | CCTS
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Conflict Transformation: from Violence To Politics Culture and personal assumptions The following points, which emerged from this group's discussions, are based on Peter Jarman's notes, expanded by Diana Francis as one of the group members Awareness of cultural assumptions is difficult to achieve, especially for those who come from dominant cultures. The difficulties associated with cultural differences are exacerbated by the power asymmetries between 'the West and the rest'. For Western professionals working outside their own culture, it is essential to be aware of the way they are likely to be perceived, initially at least, in post-colonial settings, and to respect the insights of other cultures and the dignity of those formed by them. They will also have to accept the limitations which history has imposed on them, the prejudices that it has engendered, and the effects of neo-colonial behaviour by their governments. It is proper to assume that all cultures are equal, until proved otherwise, and that people from all cultures are in any case equally to be respected. And it is important to cultivate awareness of one's own cultural assumptions and be ready to challenge them. Where possible in post-violence situations, justice processes should be dealt with by the country in question, though recourse may have to be made to the authority of an International Court where the local justice system is dysfunctional. There may be arguments for external intervention and an imposed settlement on the way to local conflict transformation and self-determination. Those who intervene in post-violent situations take to them their own preconceptions and judgements, however much they seek to stand beside those with whom they work. Those working at NGO level, however, are not in so much danger of imposing their own agendas as are intervening states. Cultural sensitivities and differences not-withstanding, it is necessary to clarify the values on which contributions to peacebuilding are to be based. The fact that ways of doing things are traditional does not necessarily make them good. The West has many destructive traditions of its own. The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, for example, has little to say about the rights of communities. What it says about the rights of individuals, such as the rights to freedom from torture or imprisonment without a fair trial, was nonetheless valid for this group. Members felt that, cultural differences not-withstanding, they were prepared to nail their colours to the human rights mast, and agreed that it was important to be open about the values informing any intervention. In the afternoon, this group discussed some of the needs for peacebuilding after violence, and began with this same point: respect for basic human rights is vital to the healing process after violence and provides a necessary bottom line. It is the basis for an end to killing and to all forms of degrading treatment of persons. Respect is needed too for the natural environment, often terribly degraded by war. The war-free, economically developed countries, responsible for much of the damage through bombing, who are the major consumers and polluters, are guilty of double standards when they make high demands for the rest of the world in relation to the environment.
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