Trust and Conflict Transformation

Central to human relationships is trust. Human relationships are affected by conflict as much as trust is. To restore human relationships following conflicts, in particular intrastate, communal and ethno-religious conflicts, is to rebuild trust. This book tries to explore the role of trust in conflict transformation by analyzing the Baku Bae Peace Movement in Indonesia—a successful initiative to reconcile and transform the relationships between Christians and Muslims in an ethno-religious conflict on the island of Maluku. The book also aims to understand how trust can be integrated into the framework of conflict transformation. The analysis shows that trust is an essential component of conflict transformation, and building trust is not only a foundation but also a component of conflict intervention. Moreover, trust is essential for both the short-term and long-term goals of conflict transformation.