Reflexive Peacebuilding: Lessons from the Anthropocene Discourse

ABSTRACT This paper introduces and develops the concept of “reflexive peacebuilding”. Peacebuilding has been conceptualised using different theoretical frameworks and operationalised across various levels of governance. This paper re-conceptualises peacebuilding in the context of the growing discourse on the Anthropocene. Drawing on the work of John S. Dryzek and Jonathan Pickering (2019. The Politics of the Anthropocene. Oxford: Oxford University Press) on reflexivity in the Anthropocene, this paper locates the “pathological path dependency” of international peacebuilding and the need for reflexive peacebuilding institutions across the agency, time, and space of peace formation. It specifically examines the United Nations peacebuilding architecture to identify the path dependency and potential for reflexivity of its institutions and practices. The discussion in this paper aims to contribute to recommendations for restructuring the international peacebuilding architecture and re-affirming its relevance to the evolving peace requirements of post-conflict societies, especially in the context of the Anthropocene.