Yemen in the Shadow of Transition: Pursuing Justice Amid War

Civil actors in Yemen are working to build peace in fragmented local communities, addressing longstanding justice demands and the transformative impact of the 2011 uprising. Despite the war, the transitional framework remains a central reference point for these actors, who are positioned as political agents imagining and enacting the justice they wish to see.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 27 October 2022
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

Yemen's civil actors are tirelessly working to foster peace in the country's fragmented local communities, amidst a diplomatic stalemate and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. This book delves into the interconnectedness of their efforts with longstanding justice demands in Yemeni society, highlighting the varying attitudes of elites towards these issues over the past three decades. It explores the transformative impact of the 2011 uprising and Yemenis' sincere grappling with questions of justice in the years that followed, shedding light on how the transitional process was ultimately overshadowed by war. Despite this, the transitional framework continues to serve as a vital reference point for civil actors engaged in peacebuilding today.

In the absence of a negotiated settlement, everyday peacebuilding has emerged as a novel platform for justice work, providing civil actors with agency and social recognition. Drawing on seventeen years of field research and extensive interviews with civil actors, Yadav presents a nuanced perspective, portraying Yemen's non-combatants not as mere victims of conflict but as active political agents envisioning and bringing about the justice they desire. This book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics of peacebuilding in a context marked by conflict and adversity, highlighting the resilience and agency of civil society in shaping a more peaceful future for Yemen.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787388130