Exploring The Role of Spiritual Beliefs and Rituals in Recruitment, Retention, And Peacebuilding: The Case of the Lord’s Resistance Army

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Abstract:

This exploratory study examines whether spiritual belief and rituals play a significant role in the recruitment and retention of rebel group members and attempts to find patterns that have an effect on long-term peacebuilding. A brief review indicates that while beliefs and rituals have been highlighted by some scholars within civil war literature as playing a part, there remains a lacuna in the study of the phenomenon. The study finds that for the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the charismatic authority of Joseph Kony, its leader, was central to the recruitment and retention of members into the group. The findings of the study were attained through key informant interviews with former members of the LRA and community leaders in and around Gulu, Northern Uganda. The study also finds that spiritual beliefs were in this case, not critical to recruitment and retention. For peacebuilding and peaceful co-existence, however, Acholi beliefs, and rituals about cleansing play a considerable function. These beliefs reveal an alternative explanation to why the war occurred in the community and concludes that these rituals and beliefs offer power, protection, and belonging.

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Exploring The Role of Spiritual Beliefs and Rituals in Recruitment, Retention, And Peacebuilding: The Case of the Lord’s Resistance Army

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