All of us have innumerable forms of identity -or subgroups- to which we belong. Most of these identities, we do not pay attention to. Yet grievances can mount based on a form of identity, even escalating into violent conflict. This is particularly the case for ethnic identities: those which we are considered to be born into and cannot change. Ethnopolitical entrepreneurs can point out existing or imagined injustices to us, explaining how the problems of our group are the fault of another, increasing our self-identification with this particular ethnic identity.

Local governments seeking to prevent violent conflict can work to reduce the salience of such ethnic identity of its citizens. This can be done through guaranteeing full inclusiveness, making sure every citizen feels treated equally and thus reducing perceived interdependence along ethnic lines. This is not about preaching unity and denying diversity, but about showing that identity does not matter for one’s chances in society and services received.

When thinking about local government contributions to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, one often thinks about specialised programmes. Yet local governments in many places in the world make a core contribution to the prevention of conflict by providing equitable service delivery to people regardless of their many identities, including ethnic ones. Clearly, even local governments that are ‘just doing their job’ are this way providing a meaningful contribution to peacebuilding every day.

Daan Stelder

As part of the publication ’Columns on peace and local democracy in international perspective’, composed in honor of the farewell of Peter Knip as director of VNG International.