In-Depth Notes on Pluriversal Peacebuilding: Peace Beyond Epistemic and Ontological Violence by Garrett FitzGerald

Definition of Pluriversal Peacebuilding: Refers to building peace that transcends epistemic and ontological violence, recognizing multiple knowledge systems and ways of being.
Eurocentrism in Peacebuilding: A critique highlighting that traditional peacebuilding has roots in Eurocentric thought, often dismissing non-Western epistemologies.
Forms of Violence: Understanding violence as a spectrum that includes physical, structural, cultural, and symbolic dimensions that impact human flourishing.
Epistemic and Ontological Violence: The marginalization of non-Western ways of knowing and being, leading to the erasure or misunderstanding of diverse perspectives in the peacebuilding discourse.

Decolonial Insights: Peacebuilding has begun to incorporate decolonial theories that challenge conventional narratives and practices.
Pluriversality Concept: Originating from Anibal Quijano, it encapsulates the coexistence of multiple ways of knowing and being, promoting diversity against the universalizing claims of modernity.

Plural Ontologies: Acknowledging that multiple understandings of reality exist, not subordinated to a single worldview.
Ethical Responsibility: Emphasizing the ethical duty to dismantle structures that reinforce violence, advocating for a world where multiple worldviews coexist harmoniously.

Hegemonic Peace Narratives: Explore how mainstream peace discourses often marginalize alternative conceptions, reinforcing colonial hierarchies.
Local Turn: Advocates for recognizing local knowledge and practices in peacebuilding, challenging hegemonic processes that impose foreign structures.

2016 Peace Agreement: Highlighting the intersectionality of violence in Colombia's peace discourse, recognizing the diverse experiences of different communities.
Critique of Liberal Peacebuilding: Examining how international frameworks may still perpetuate colonial ideals and the need for inclusive frameworks that recognize local epistemologies.

Connector Concepts: Utilizing common ideas (like "peace") as bridging tools to facilitate dialogues between different epistemologies, recognizing their multifaceted meanings.
Intercultural Perspectives: Engaging Indigenous, feminist, and local perspectives to shape an inclusive approach to peace that respects diverse knowledge systems.

Complex Internal Dynamics: Addressing how peace concepts can mask the complexities and stratifications within communities advocating for peace.
Avoiding Romanticization: Recognizing the risks of oversimplifying Indigenous approaches to peace; these are often dynamic and subject to internal contestation.

Decentralizing Knowledge Authority: Advocating for a shift away from 'expert' knowledge to include indigenous and local forms of understanding peace.
Navigating Conflicts: Acknowledging that pluriversal engagements are not free from power struggles, necessitating critical reflection on disparities within peace discourses.
A Future-Oriented Approach: Enabling peacebuilding efforts to bridge differences while remaining attentive to the historical and ongoing impacts of coloniality in various contexts.