https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4758-239X
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ABSTRACT
Although critical studies on peace and conflict studies have addressed the topic of knowledge production and peacebuilding, this is not a highly discussed issue in the literature. There is no unique or unambiguous conceptual framework to analyze this topic. This article shows conceptual elements that must be considered to understand the interaction between local and scientific knowledge in research projects on peace and peacebuilding; and reflects on what types of problems emerge when local and expert knowledge interact within the context of international cooperation projects. Based on the evidence collected during one workshop with Colombian researchers and the analysis of fifty research proposals funded by the German Colombian Peace Institute (CAPAZ) between 2017 and 2021, this article identifies topics, methodologies and products that suggest the existence of hybridization and co-production practices of knowledge when research on peacebuilding and conflict is designed and conceived.
RESUMO
Embora estudos críticos no campo da paz e estudos de conflitos tenham abordado a questão da produção de conhecimento, esta não é uma questão comummente discutida na literatura. Não existe um quadro conceptual único e unívoco para analisar as formas como a produção de conhecimento afeta a investigação sobre a paz. Este artigo apresenta elementos conceptuais para a compreensão da interação entre o conhecimento local e científico no contexto de projetos de construção da paz e de investigação de conflitos, e reflete sobre os problemas que surgem quando estes dois tipos de conhecimento interagem no contexto de projetos financiados pela cooperação internacional. Com base em evidências recolhidas durante um workshop com investigadores colombianos e na análise de 50 propostas de investigação financiadas pelo Instituto Colombiano-Alemão para a Paz (CAPAZ) entre 2017 e 2021, este artigo identifica temas, metodologias e produtos que sugerem a existência de práticas de hibridização e coprodução de conhecimento ao conceber e conceber investigação sobre construção da paz e conflito.
RESUMEN
A pesar de que los estudios críticos en el campo de los estudios de paz y conflicto han abordado el tema de la producción de conocimiento, este no es un asunto discutido normalmente en la literatura sobre el tema. No existe un marco conceptual único y unívoco para analizar las formas en que la producción de conocimiento incide sobre la investigación que se hace sobre la paz. Este artículo presenta elementos conceptuales para entender la interacción entre el conocimiento local y científico en el marco de proyectos de investigación sobre construcción de paz y conflicto, y reflexiona sobre los problemas que emergen cuando estos dos tipos de conocimiento interactúan en el contexto de proyectos financiados por la cooperación internacional. Basado en la evidencia recolectada durante un taller realizado con investigadores colombianos y el análisis de 50 propuestas de investigación financiadas por el Instituto Colombo-Alemán para la Paz (CAPAZ) entre 2017 y 2021, el presente artículo identifica temas, metodologías y productos que sugieren la existencia de prácticas de hibridación y co-producción del conocimiento cuando se diseña y concibe la investigación sobre construcción de paz y conflicto.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 The collegiate work published by Clacso about “other forms of knowledge” (Leyva Solano Citation2018) provides a comprehensive analysis of plural research practices implemented by Latin American academic and activist scholars.
2 From a theoretical perspective, CPAs are an integrated collection of parallel and reinforcing processes designed to promote reconciliation between warring groups. They are intended to help build better social relations and overcome fear and insecurity addressing the root causes of civil war (Joshi & Quinn Citation2017, 3). For the Colombian case, the CPA included the following chapters: (i) comprehensive rural reform, (ii) political participation, (iii) end of the conflict, (iv) solution to the problem of illicit drugs, (iv) agreement of the victims of the conflict and (v) implementation, verification, and public endorsement.
3 A preliminary reading of the 310 pages of the Colombian CPA from the perspective of “knowledge production for peace”( Balanzó, Nupia, and Centeno Citation2020) allowed us to identify five thematic blocks on which knowledge is required: (i) agricultural innovation, (ii) environment and land use planning, (iii) drug trafficking value chain, (iv) judicial enquiry; (v) forensic research. This is an important guide for future research on the relationship between knowledge and peacebuilding.
4 One example is the financial support provided by USAID to the Peace and Conflict Observatory at Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
5 The role of the international centers for peace research (SIPRI, PRIO, PRIF, USIP) is highly relevant for policy diffusion and agenda-setting (Bergmann Citation2018; Montgomery Citation2003). Based on a combination of basic research and knowledge transfer on policy-making, these institutes have contributed to shaping the understanding of liberal peace through training, policy recommendations, and the promotion of best practices.
6 The founders of CAPAZ were: German academic institutions (Freie Universität Berlin, Georg-August Universität in Göttingen, Albert Ludwigs Universität in Freiburg, and Peace Research Institut in Frankfurt) and Colombian universities (Universidad Nacional, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad de los Andes, and Universidad del Rosario).
7 The workshop entitled: “Towards a Research Agenda on Scientific Knowledge, Society and Peacebuilding in Colombia” was held on December 10 and 12 2018. It received 74 applications from different universities and research organizations in Colombia of which 16 were accepted to participate in discussions. Find out more at: https://cutt.ly/oJOxVL7
8 Proposals lacked information on topics such as interaction between scientific and local knowledge, agency, plural epistemics, roles, and tensions in multi-actor collaborations and transdisciplinarity.
9 An interesting discussion emerged during the workshop on why scientific knowledge was presented as the extreme opposite of local knowledge and why it was the main focus of the organizers' attention. One of the main arguments was that local knowledge could include more different forms than scientific knowledge.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Carlos Mauricio Nupia
Carlos Mauricio Nupia was Administrative Director of the German Colombian Peace Institute – CAPAZ in Bogota, Colombia. From April 2023, he is Scientific Collaborator at the Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut – Preußicher Kulturbesitz in Berlin, Germany. At the IAI he is currently coordinating a study on the perspectives of research networks between Latin America, the Caribbean and the German-speaking Area (Austria, Germany and Switzerland) in the field of Social Sciences and Humanities. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the Freie Universität Berlin – FUB. His academic production has been related to topics such as public policy for science, technology and innovation; international policy transfer and learning; scientific cooperation for development; and scientific knowledge production and peace building.
Laura Valencia Espinosa
Laura Valencia Espinosa is academic assistant of the platform Necapaz at the German Colombian Peace Institute – CAPAZ in Bogota, Colombia. She is a Languages and Culture and Political Science professional from Universidad de los Andes in Colombia. She specializes in international relations and comparative politics. She joined the CAPAZ in August 2021 and she supported the Administrative Direction in the area of knowledge management.