December 12, 2023 9:00 AM
Title: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Bottom-Up Rural Development for Peacebuilding: An International Literature Review and a Case Study in Rural Colombia.
Committee members: Mark Edwards, Brent Steel, Hilary Boudet, Patrick Emerson, Michael P. Nelson
Abstract: This dissertation aims to bring insights from successful “bottom-up” approaches in a rural context. The collection of papers begins with a systematic literature review, providing an overview of the current state of the generally inchoate academic research on the bottom-up rural development and peacebuilding nexus. The second paper quantitatively examines the relationship between bottom-up rural development and peacebuilding programs and their possible effects, focusing on non-governmental local Development and Peace Programs that have purposefully involved bottom-up approaches for almost 30 years in rural lands of Colombia – a country suffering from intrastate armed conflict for more than 50 years. The third paper applies a qualitative methodology to the same programs, identifying key insights obtained by those organizations regarding the practice of simultaneously building development and peacebuilding in rural lands. The results highlight the role of bottom-up approaches and other critical factors that promote rural development for peace.