Civil Society and Peacebuilding: the Case of the Post-Soviet Space

Official and unofficial strands of mediation and dialogue each have their potential, but also their limits, and should not be seen as competing, but as complementing one another. However, the fact is that the different “tracks”, or political levels of peacebuilding, often act in isolation from, or even in opposition to, one another. Civil society could play an interesting role in mediating the different levels, and therewith make the effort for peace more effective. However, as the example of the post-Soviet space shows, civil society peacebuilders are in a deep crisis due to internal weaknesses, repression by the government and donor exigencies. Whether civil society will succeed in breaking free from this vicious circle depends to a large extent on its ability to re-invent itself.