In the aftermath of intense violence as we had in the conflicts in Syria since the start of the uprising against the government of Bashar al-Assad in 2011, it is easy to see the physical damage that has been done: the destruction of buildings, the displacement of individuals, and the death of many people. Economic interests are such that much attention is focused on physical reconstruction. The skills needed for rebuilding exist within the society or in firms that will be called upon such as the firms in Turkey.
However, establishing relationships among different communities so as to move forward is difficult. Peacebuilding is not a wide-spread set of skills. There is a need to create just and durable structures within a wider Middle East where there are still violent armed conflicts and dangers of new tensions. A constructive process of recovery should create opportunities for new forms of interaction and avoid reinforcing the divisions of the past. Inevitably, such a process takes time and resources and needs to be flexible to meet unforseen situations.
There is a need to create a renewed social fabric. The term "social fabric" covers the structure, processes, and relationships of people within a society and includes elements of religion, culture, gender roles, education, and the avenues of influence. There is a body of information on education for peace developed by UNESCO and some educational institutions to develop skills with an emphasis on the dignity of each person. Peace education can take many forms such as workshops, a training course, an awareness campaign, storybooks for children and artwork.
There is a need to improve communication for positive ideas. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have an important role to play. We on the outside must find ways to support the creation of a renewed social frabic.
René Wadkow, Association of World Citizens
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