Peace-building is used as a meta-term that comprises alleviation, prevention, and conflict resolution. Norwegian sociologist Johan Galtung in the 1970s coined the word “Peace Building “He was enthralled with the statement that peace is about the extermination of structural violence, dominance, and oppression that led people away fromsocial cohesion. Predominantly, the outcome or goal of peace-building is toresolve conflicts, and prejudice, and foster reconciliation for sustainable peace. Social cohesion has become an imperative tool for peace-building in our society. It helps to create robust relations and unified connections despite their differences.
Social Cohesion is an epoxy that clenches society conjointly. It appeases horizontal inequalities (depicts the inequality among groups), overcomes disparities, and circumvents polarization in society. It develops a sense of trust, social cooperation, stable reciprocity, collaboration, equity, and tolerance especially inclusivity in the decision-making process leading to good governance and sustainable peace ineither society or Country. The Economic Commission of Latin America & Caribbean and the Council of Europe have emphasized social cohesion and social integration as important facets of socioeconomic and political development. For the development of social cohesion, a country needs a strong institution. Conversely, the Third World countries especially Pakistan has weak institutions and a plethora of challenges that need to be addressed to maintain stability and promote peace, well-being, and resilience.
Peace cannot be sustained in the fragile state: State institutions play an immensely pivotal role in the peace-building process. The word State is derived from the Latin word status meaning “Condition “and circumstances. Territory, population, sovereignty, and Government are key ingredients to becoming a country as a state. It governs and oversees society or population within the territory. There are 205 states in the world, where Pakistan is a State which is further divided into sovereign institutions such as executive, legislative, and judiciary. Nevertheless, other countries like the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal have three levels namely the federation, the state, and the local level.
The legitimacy of any state-owned institution cannot be sustained without having cohesion of state actors in any country. State comprises actors and non-state actors do perform substantial roles in peace-building and social cohesion. As aforementioned, the Government exercises its authority through legislation (to make laws), executive (to enforce the law), and judiciary (to interpret law) for sustainable peace and cohesion among the population. The third branch of government judiciary plays an effective role in peace-building. It was established by the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s purpose is to address prejudice, ensure fair justice, prosecute perpetrators (who commit crimes), and provide compensation to the victim.
As far as non-state actors like the United National Development Programme (UNDP), the International Peace Institute, the United Nations Peace Building Institute, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace are dedicated to promoting peace, harmony, and unity. Boutros Boutros-Ghal, 6th Secretary General of the United Nations from1992-1996 was the first who discussed peace-building in his report “An Agenda for Peace: Preventive Diplomacy, Peacemaking, and Peacekeeping” Ghali, Boutros (1992). He enthralled that peace-building prevents from recurrence of conflict by fostering sustainable peace and social cohesion.
Three institutions of state disport very pivot roles to consolidate peace after post-conflict which are Public Finance, security, and the justice of administration.When the state provides necessities and service delivery to the doorstep (Access to healthcare and education facilities) of every citizen including marginalized communities and lower segments of society with an egalitarian approach, itunravels the social conflict before it comes to the apex of violence. Resultantly, the state will be an agent of peace and social cohesion. NGOs are playing an active role in peace-building and peace-making activities.
Non-state actors reside in the domain of track-II diplomacy where non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, and academic institutions negotiate between the parties through social cohesion to promote peacebuilding in a country. Tertiary institutions of the state steer the production of manpower. It can contribute to different paradigms of the peace-building process, fostering capacity building including training and workshops, promoting national unity, community engagement through cultural exchange, activism, and advocacy pertinent to sustainable peace and social cohesion.
The state regulates the society through constitution (body of fundamental principles) where they perform their action through different symbolic acts that represent reconciliation and absolutions are rituals. It helps in the peace-building process and to build trust among conflictingparties. For the resolution of any conflict, peace-building is a prerequisite for stability.
State institutions analyze and acknowledge the problem of society before it is exaggerated and escalates into violence. For example, the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat (state institution) is responsible for opening an inquiry, fair investigation against, and redressed the grievances to maintain peace in society. When institutions like the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination are directed to ensure basic service delivery to its citizens irrespective of their caste, creed, ethnicity, and religion. It contributes to social cohesion which is important for the betterment and stability of the community at large.
