Community Participation and Conflict Resolution in Mogadishu Somalia

ABSTRACT 

Conflict has been a part of the world from time immemorial. The need for not only conflict resolution but effective conflict resolution has been the preoccupation of the African continent and indeed the world at large. It has been argued that the world today is more in conflict than at peace even though the world has not experienced a major war. Matters conflict resolution has overtime been left to men. This is due to the fact that many decision making roles have been handled by men in many communities. Even though men have been largely charged with conflict resolution, women have been stereotyped as peacemakers, thought of as being more pacific than men and often symbolized as paragons of goodness and tenderness owing to their natural nurturing role as caregivers. This stereotyping is reinforced through socialization patterns that promote women primarily as child bearers and good wives, caregivers, arbitrators of conflict and peace promoters in the family and community. The stereotyping has also been attributed to the entrenchment of patriarchy in the communities. The literature on women’s participation in conflict resolution and peace processes takes two approaches the first one being their representation and participation at high political levels and in decision-making mechanisms for conflict resolution and the second one being the disparate collection on women’s grass-roots peacemaking initiatives. This research therefore analyze the participation of women in the conflict and conflict resolution processes in Kenya and Liberia with a view to highlighting the absence of women as one of the main issues affecting the realization of effective conflict resolution.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Page

Declaration A

Declaration B II

Dedication III

Acknowledgement I”

Abstract Iv

Table of content V

List of tables Ix

One THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

Background of the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 6

Purpose of the Study 7

Research Objectives 7

Research Questions 8

Hypotheses 8

Scope 9

Significance of the Study 10

Operational Definitions of Key Terms 10

Two REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 12

Concepts, Ideas, Opinions from Authors/Experts 12

Theoretical Perspectives 14

Related Studies 17

Three METHODOLOGIES 30

Research Design 30

Research Population 30

Sample Size 30

Sampling Procedure 31

Research Instrument 31

Validity and Reliability of the Instrument 31

Data Gathering Procedures 32

Data Analysis 33

Ethical Considerations 34

Limitations of the Study 35

Four PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 36

Profile of respondents 36

Level of community participation 40

Level of conflict resolution 42

Relationship between community participation and conflict resolution in Mogadishu 45

Five FINDINGS CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATION 47

Findings 47

Conclusion 49

Recommendation 50

References 52

Appendices 55

Appendix I - Transmittal Letter 55

Appendix II - Clearance from Ethics Committee 56

Appendix III- Calculation of content validity index 57

Appendix VI- Informed consent for the respondents 58

Appendix ‘J A- profile of respondents 59

Appendix V B- Questionnaire to determine the levels of

community participation 60

Appendix V C-Questionnaire to determine the level of conflict

resolution 62

Researcher's Curriculum Vita 64