Peacebuilding Networks: A Case Study of COVA in Hyderabad

In civil society, a major actor of peacebuilding processes, networking is rapidly increasing its importance. Therefore this book analyses a nongovernmental organization based in India which follows a networking approach to confront and mitigate communal conflict. The theoretical part shows findings from general networking theory, the networking of nongovernmental organizations including their links to state actors, and networks related to peacebuilding as well as an overview of the conflict patterns in India. The conclusion from the analysis is that networks which try to root themselves in the communal level of society should adopt a developmental approach to gain access and create a broad basis for participation. If these networks then include individuals from both sides of the conflict divide they have a high potential to encourage the building of bridging social capital between the communities. Once the participatory basis is established a number of peacebuilding activities like monitoring, reconciliation or advocacy can be implemented through these networks.