Peacebuilding in Southern Thailand : The developmental contribution of the Asia Foundation's deliberative dialogue program

Abstract

Currently, many international aid agencies seek to contritbute to development and peacebuilding in Southern Thailand, yet recent investigation suggests that there are still many shortcomings in the realization of meaningful contributions to peacebuilding. Although development agencies and organizations through their work have the potential to contribute to and support peace work, the reality is that developmental contributions to situations of conflict are not always nor are necessarily positive ones. In considering the developmental contributions to peacebuilding in Southern Thailand, a range of development actors and outcomes are noted, highlighting the political nature of development. This research then uses the selected case study of The Asia Foundation's Deliberative Dialogue Program to consider its contribution to peacebuilding in Southern Thailand. With many agencies, actors, and organizations seeking avenues to contribute to the peacebuilding process mostly through Track III (civil society based) methods, there can be benefit found in an examination of current strategies and implementation of peace work through development actors in Southern Thailand. In determining how development efforts can support peacebuilding in Southern Thailand in an integrated way, and specifically how TAF's Deliberative Dialogue Program can contribute to development and peacebuilding in Southern Thailand, this research hopes to present an example of options and avenues for those seeking promote peace in Southern Thailand.