
In The International Press, East Africa Is Depicted As A Region Mired In Civil War, Child Abduction, Rebel Militias, Muslim-christian Violence, And Grinding Poverty. Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army (lra) Of Northern Uganda Has Become A Symbol For The Troubles Of Contemporary Africa. Seen From Within, However, An Altogether Different Reality Is Visible-one In Which Local Communities And Their Leaders Work Together To Resolve Conflict And Rebuild Their Communities. Little Known Beyond Northern Uganda, The Acholi Religious Leaders' Peace Initiative (arlpi) Is An Inspiring Example Of One Such Community Organization. The Story Of Arlpi, Examined In This Book By Philosopher David Hoekema, Demonstrates Just How Much Can Be Accomplished By A Small Group Of Dedicated Community Leaders In A Situation Where A Decade Of Military Force And International Pressure Have Had Little Discernible Effect. Drawing On Published Sources And Interviews With Organization Leaders And Lra Survivors, Hoekema Illuminates How Both The Depredations Of The Lra And The Healing Work Of Arlpi Are Rooted In Modern East African History. He Documents The Courageous Work Of The Catholic, Protestant, And Muslim Leaders Who Constitute The Arlpi To Overcome Centuries Of Mistrust And Help Bring An End To One Of The Most Horrific Conflicts In Recent History. Their Work, He Argues, Puts Philosophical And Theological Ideas Into Practice And In So Doing Sheds New Light On How Religion Relates To Politics, How Brutal Conflicts Can Be Resolved, And How A Community Can Reclaim Its Future Through Locally-initiated Initiatives Against Overwhelming Obstacles.
This book investigates how local religious leadership in Northern Uganda successfully navigated and mitigated the effects of the Lord's Resistance Army conflict where international military intervention failed. Philosopher David A. Hoekema utilizes his academic background to analyze the Acholi Religious Leaders' Peace Initiative (ARLPI), arguing that grassroots, interfaith cooperation provides a more effective framework for conflict resolution than external political or military pressure. By synthesizing historical context with personal accounts, the author demonstrates the practical application of theological and philosophical principles in active war zones.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts and readers frequently note the book's ability to bridge the gap between abstract philosophical inquiry and the harsh realities of humanitarian crises. It is often cited as a significant case study for those interested in the role of local religious institutions in post-conflict reconstruction and peace advocacy.
Page Count:
320
Publication Date:
2019-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190923164
ISBN-13:
9780190923167
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