1 -  Community Sites of Knowledge: Knowledge Creation and Application for Sustainable Peace in Africa

Andreas Velthuizen

doi:10.57054/asr.v16i2.3826

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2012): African Sociological Review

Issue Published : March 6, 2013

1 - Community Sites of Knowledge: Knowledge Creation and Application for Sustainable Peace in Africa

https://doi.org/10.57054/asr.v16i2.3826

Andreas Velthuizen

institute for Dispute Resolution in Africa (iDRA) University of South Africa

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0601-0288

Corresponding Author(s) : Andreas Velthuizen

velthag@unisa.ac.za

African Sociological Review, Vol. 16 No. 2 (2012): African Sociological Review
Article Published : April 19, 2013

Abstract

In this article the question is asked: What is relationship between knowledge creation and sustainable peace in Africa? The specific aim of this article is to identify specific principles of knowledge creation and sustainable peace that can serve as propositions for further research.
The knowledge foundation of this discussion is a literature study, interpretative interaction and participation in focus-groups during field research in collaboration with the Community Sites of Knowledge (CSoK) and the Marcus Garvey Pan African Institute near and in Mbale, Eastern Uganda. It is that knowledge systems are converging towards a glocality of awareness and action. This convergence facilitates the complementarity of endogenous and modern institutions and the inclusive participation of the community as a building block for sustainable peace, transformation and progress. The finding is that relationship of knowledge creation and sustainable peace in Africa is characterized by glocal interconnectedness, the converging of knowledge and central value adding. Some important recommendations are offered to communities, conflict and dispute resolution practitioners, African Universities and state structures concerning the application of endogenous knowledge for sustainable peace.

Keywords

Community Knowledge Sustainable Peace Africa

Andreas Velthuizen. (2013). 1 - Community Sites of Knowledge: Knowledge Creation and Application for Sustainable Peace in Africa. African Sociological Review, 16(2), 2–21. https://doi.org/10.57054/asr.v16i2.3826

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References

Ake, C, 1986, ‘Editorial: raison d’ etre’, African Journal of Political Economy Vol.1,1, p. i-iv.
Barnett, M. and Zürcher, C., 2008, ‘The peacebuilder’s contract: How external state building reinforces weak statehood’, in Paris R. and Sisk, T. (eds.), The Contradictions of State Building: Confronting the Dilemmas of Post-War Peace Operations, London: Routledge, pp. 287–303.
Call, C. and Cousens, E., 2008, ‘Ending Wars and Building Peace, International Responses to War-Torn Societies’, international Studies Perspectives Vol.9, p. 1–21.
Dia, M., 1996, Africa’s management in the 1990s and beyond: Reconciling indigenous andtransplanted institutions, Washington: World Bank, p. 241.
Faris. J., 2012, ‘Dispute Resolution: towards a new vision’, (http://www.unisa.ac.za default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=26247), 21 June 2012.
Gaidzanwa, B.R., 2012, ‘Critical enquiry into African knowledge production and epistemological systems, with the aim of generating endogenous Afrocentric perspectives and paradigms’, presentation in Pretoria, Unisa, 3 October 2012.
Habib, A., 2011, ‘Can 53 states ever be equal to 1? A discourse of the prospect of continental integration in Africa’ Consultancy Africa Intelligence (CAI), (http:/ www.polity.org.za) 21 Feb 2011.
Hountondji, P.J, 2009, ‘Knowledge of Africa, knowledge of Africans’, RCCS Annual Review no. 1, September 2009, p.10.
Kwesi Kwaa Prah, 2011, ‘Culture: The Missing Link in Development in Planning’, in Keita, L. (ed.) Africa Philosophy and African Development: Theory and Practice, Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. 160-165.
Lanz, D. and Péclard, D., 2011, ‘Peacebuilding Through Statebuilding?’ International Relations and Security Network (ISN), Center for Security Studies (CSS), (www.isn.org), 24 March 2011.
Mafeje, A., 1971, ‘The Ideology of Tribalism’, The Journal of Modern African Studies, vol.9, 2, pp. 253-261.
Malan, J.,1973, Conflict resolution wisdom from Africa, Durban: African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), p. 93
Nabudere, D.W., 2006, ‘The developmental state, democracy and the global society in Africa’, paper presented at the DBSA/HSRC/Wits NEPAD Conference ‘Investment Choices for Education in Africa’, 19–21 September 2006, Johannesburg. Nabudere, D.W, 2011, ‘Towards the Establishment of a Pan-African University: A Strategic Concept Paper’, African Journal of Political Science, Vol. 8, 1., Afrika Study Centre, Mbale, Uganda, p. 1.
Nabudere D.W., 2012, Afrikology and trans-disciplinarity: A Restorative Epistemology, Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa, pp.191-192
Nonaka, I. 1998, ‘The knowledge creating company’, in Drucker,P. (ed.), Harvard Business Review on Knowledge Management, Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, p. 21.
Nzita, R., and Mbaga, N., 1998, Peoples and Cultures of Uganda, Kampala: Fountain Publishers, p.124.
Odora Hoppers, C., 2002, ‘Indigenous Knowledge and the Integration of Knowledge Systems: Towards a conceptual and Methodological Framework’, in indigenous Knowledge and the integration of Knowledge Systems, Claremont: New Africa Books, p. 8.
United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Public Administration and Development Management, 2005, Understanding Knowledge Societies, New York: United Nations Publishing Section.
Paris, R., 2004, At War’s End: Building Peace after Civil Conflict, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Abstract.
Velthuizen, A.G., 2007, The Management of Knowledge: A Model for the African Renaissance, Doctoral Thesis, Pretoria: UNISA.
Zartman, I.W., 2000, traditional Cures for Modern Conflicts: African Conflict ‘Medicine, Boulder: Lynne Rienner, p.7.

References

Ake, C, 1986, ‘Editorial: raison d’ etre’, African Journal of Political Economy Vol.1,1, p. i-iv.

Barnett, M. and Zürcher, C., 2008, ‘The peacebuilder’s contract: How external state building reinforces weak statehood’, in Paris R. and Sisk, T. (eds.), The Contradictions of State Building: Confronting the Dilemmas of Post-War Peace Operations, London: Routledge, pp. 287–303.

Call, C. and Cousens, E., 2008, ‘Ending Wars and Building Peace, International Responses to War-Torn Societies’, international Studies Perspectives Vol.9, p. 1–21.

Dia, M., 1996, Africa’s management in the 1990s and beyond: Reconciling indigenous andtransplanted institutions, Washington: World Bank, p. 241.

Faris. J., 2012, ‘Dispute Resolution: towards a new vision’, (http://www.unisa.ac.za default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=26247), 21 June 2012.

Gaidzanwa, B.R., 2012, ‘Critical enquiry into African knowledge production and epistemological systems, with the aim of generating endogenous Afrocentric perspectives and paradigms’, presentation in Pretoria, Unisa, 3 October 2012.

Habib, A., 2011, ‘Can 53 states ever be equal to 1? A discourse of the prospect of continental integration in Africa’ Consultancy Africa Intelligence (CAI), (http:/ www.polity.org.za) 21 Feb 2011.

Hountondji, P.J, 2009, ‘Knowledge of Africa, knowledge of Africans’, RCCS Annual Review no. 1, September 2009, p.10.

Kwesi Kwaa Prah, 2011, ‘Culture: The Missing Link in Development in Planning’, in Keita, L. (ed.) Africa Philosophy and African Development: Theory and Practice, Dakar: CODESRIA, pp. 160-165.

Lanz, D. and Péclard, D., 2011, ‘Peacebuilding Through Statebuilding?’ International Relations and Security Network (ISN), Center for Security Studies (CSS), (www.isn.org), 24 March 2011.

Mafeje, A., 1971, ‘The Ideology of Tribalism’, The Journal of Modern African Studies, vol.9, 2, pp. 253-261.

Malan, J.,1973, Conflict resolution wisdom from Africa, Durban: African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), p. 93

Nabudere, D.W., 2006, ‘The developmental state, democracy and the global society in Africa’, paper presented at the DBSA/HSRC/Wits NEPAD Conference ‘Investment Choices for Education in Africa’, 19–21 September 2006, Johannesburg. Nabudere, D.W, 2011, ‘Towards the Establishment of a Pan-African University: A Strategic Concept Paper’, African Journal of Political Science, Vol. 8, 1., Afrika Study Centre, Mbale, Uganda, p. 1.

Nabudere D.W., 2012, Afrikology and trans-disciplinarity: A Restorative Epistemology, Pretoria: Africa Institute of South Africa, pp.191-192

Nonaka, I. 1998, ‘The knowledge creating company’, in Drucker,P. (ed.), Harvard Business Review on Knowledge Management, Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, p. 21.

Nzita, R., and Mbaga, N., 1998, Peoples and Cultures of Uganda, Kampala: Fountain Publishers, p.124.

Odora Hoppers, C., 2002, ‘Indigenous Knowledge and the Integration of Knowledge Systems: Towards a conceptual and Methodological Framework’, in indigenous Knowledge and the integration of Knowledge Systems, Claremont: New Africa Books, p. 8.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Public Administration and Development Management, 2005, Understanding Knowledge Societies, New York: United Nations Publishing Section.

Paris, R., 2004, At War’s End: Building Peace after Civil Conflict, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Abstract.

Velthuizen, A.G., 2007, The Management of Knowledge: A Model for the African Renaissance, Doctoral Thesis, Pretoria: UNISA.

Zartman, I.W., 2000, traditional Cures for Modern Conflicts: African Conflict ‘Medicine, Boulder: Lynne Rienner, p.7.

Author Biography

Andreas Velthuizen, institute for Dispute Resolution in Africa (iDRA) University of South Africa

Andreas Velthuizen is a full professor in the newly formed Thabo Mbeki African School for Public- and International Affairs (TM-School) at the University of South Africa (Unisa), specializing in the field of African conflict studies including peace and security.
His primary academic interest is to teach and develop new theories for conflict resolution, peace, and security in Africa, informed by the African way of knowing (epistemology), following a trans-disciplinary approach. As a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher (C2), his preferred research approach is to develop community sites of knowledge by means of community-engaged participatory research together with social communities and communities of practice.
He further shares his research through the supervision of post-graduate students, as Editor-in-Chief of the reputable African Security Review (ASR), and lecturing at public service institutions in South Africa and abroad. Prof Velthuizen was also involved in the training of election officials on the Management of Democratic Elections in Africa (MDEA) program, teaches the module on Decision-making for Conflict Resolution in Africa as part of the Thought Leadership Program at the TM-School and manage the development of short learning programs.
His qualifications include a D Litt et Phil degree in Politics from Unisa for a dissertation with the title “The Management of Knowledge: A Model for the African Renaissance” as well as an MA Degree in Strategic Studies and BA Degree in International Politics. He published extensively and presented his work at academic conferences and workshops on most continents of the world and is part of several international collaborations.
He is Paul Harris Fellow (Saphire) of Rotary International and an active member of Rotary appropriately focusing on the Rotary focus area of Peace and Conflict Resolution as part of his research and social responsibility/academic citizenship network.

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