Perceptions of Peacebuilding: The Dynamic of Imposer and Imposed Upon

The role of perception has a significant effect in cases of contemporary peacebuilding. Because the circumstances in which it takes place are highly polarized, groups within the target society tend to be distrustful of change, convinced of their victimization, and suspicious of reforms that do not satisfy the demands of their ethnic, religious, or cultural group. Those factors can lead to resentment against international efforts, especially when reforms require compromise, and a perception that change is externally enforced. A sense of imposition or broken promises can result and spark a local backlash that undermines the legitimacy of reforms and may even result in violence. Because local support is crucial to peacebuilding’s success we need to analyze these perceptual challenges more closely. By learning to understand the role of perception in this non-traditional context we may be able to anticipate the cycle of action and response and prevent it from turning to violence