Peace, politics, and practice – the need for multidisciplinary consultation to progress peacebuilding

This chapter reviews the current challenges confronting international peacebuilding and aid efforts. It argues two fundamental shortcomings exist; the underlying motives and assumptions of international peacebuilding initiatives; and the methods used to assess the impact of such initiatives. As a result, the fundamental bases on which peacebuilding initiatives are designed and implemented are flawed, explaining the ineffectiveness of current peacebuilding strategies. This chapter then identifies the substantial overlap between the fields of positive peace, positive psychology, and education, and thus proposes multidisciplinary consultation to explore alternative peacebuilding approaches, both theoretical and methodological, to address current peacebuilding effort shortfalls. Consistent throughout each field it becomes evident a universal needs over ideals basis is necessary. Thus, informed by a universal needs perspective, this review proposes an international peacebuilding framework using an innovative strategy of standardized customization. Combining the standardization and psychometric rigor of International Large-Scale Assessments (e.g., Programme for International Student Assessment), with community designed, led, and managed interventions via a community participatory action approach, this chapter theorizes current shortfalls in peacebuilding efforts can be overcome, significant insights into positive peace monitoring and development can be derived, and importantly, geopolitical motivation and positive peace promotion can be aligned.