Development and Cooperation


	Contributions from the Column Books and Media Where do hunger and poverty come from? – An explanation for young readers Tobin tax First study, then support 02/2003		First study, then support Thania Paffenholz: Stärkung von Friedensallianzen (Strengthening peace alliances), Eschborn, GTZ 2002, 40 pp. Establishing peace by civil means is a complicated business and calls for a great deal of sensitivity. In conflict regions, working with groups which have an interest in peace is a good starting-point. But according to conflict researcher Thania Paffenholz, some important groundwork needs to be done before that. The conflict situation, its background, the historical context and above all the relations between the different civil society actors need to be closely studied - because although a particular group may have an interest in peace, supporting it could disrupt a delicate social balance and fuel more conflict. Paffenholz warns about this repeatedly, pointing out also that development cooperation's contribution to crisis prevention should not be overestimated. This is a publication offering valuable advice for all project planners in civil peace work and for peace workers in the field. (ell)