Multidimensional Roles of the Local Non-Governmental Organizations in Creating Reconciliation Spaces in the South Caucasus

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are the integral part of every society and the notion that the peace has to be built not only from top but also from the bottom is not a new concept in conflict resolution field. While different scholars have looked at many different aspects of NGOs – the relationships with the state, with the donors, and larger society, no existing study examines them in a synergy or empirically investigates how local non- governmental organizations are positioned within their local societies and how this positioning affects the ways that NGOs create, maintain and manage spaces for reconciliation. To address this I will conduct exploratory research of local NGOs that work in peace and conflict resolution field in the South Caucasus to gain insights on the “natural habitat” where these organizations form and conduct their activities. This study will 1) improve and further develop our knowledge and understanding of the work in post-conflict environments; 2) will provide an alternative framework of viewing reconciliation activities and projects, and will improve the understanding of non-measurable indicators in reconciliation processes; and 3) the study will provide tools to NGOs for better and more effective communication with donors and international agencies, as well as their own governments and constituencies. In addition, this study will help to further enrich research and literature on reconciliation by adding the new dimension of reconciliation spaces to the concept of reconciliation.