The concept of civil society has been discussed by philosophers and political scientists for centuries, but in the post Cold War period the interest has increased considerably – in fact, to the degree that the concept itself has turned into a fashionable “buzzword”. Of particular interest has been the role that civil society, social movements and non-governmental organizations can play in conflict resolution and peace-building.

This book is based on contributions by researchers of Hiroshima Peace Institute (HPI) and Tampere Peace Research Institute (TAPRI). Focusing on the complexities and potential of the concept, the book attempts to shed light on the Asian and European understandings of civil society and analyze on a comparative basis the experiences of civil society in conflict resolution and peace building.