In the age of globalization where the world seems closer, we are also united by our struggles in democratization. Today, the world is beset by, among other things, a rise in terrorism and the number of failed states, distrust of developed nations by developing nations, and lack of political and economic development in the majority of developing countries (where the vast majority of the world’s people live). The world continues to witness, among others, devastating attacks carried out by fundamentalists on innocent civilians within and across national borders, genocide committed by governments and rebel groups against minorities, rigging of elections that result in atrocities between rival party supporters, and uprisings by citizens who are demanding a voice in the affairs of their countries. Unfortunately, few of the solutions and policies that the institutions propose to address these issues have proven to be viable. There is, thus, room for new approaches that will bring fresh insight into these issues and to develop viable local and global practices that would jumpstart peace and security around the world.

The critical issue that undermines world stability is the uneven (or, as some would say, inequitable) distribution of economic, social, and political power both within and between countries. Many governments, international non-governmental institutions, and independent actors in world politics have tried to address these issues, but the policies and programs they prescribe often have limited impacts on local communities. The primary reason for this lack of success is because the majority of these development programs do not build on civic capacity. Civic capacity refers to the ability of a community to become agent of their lives, shapers of their communities, and co-creators of democracy. This kind of capacity, as David Ellerman notes, cannot be imposed from outside.

Deliberative processes, as those proposed by ICSC (International Civil Service Consortium), through which communities name their problems and negotiate a generally acceptable course of action hold sustaining promise for local communities.

ICSC provides a space for local organizations to stay connected with others, learn how others are dealing with local challenges, and use this opportunity to create innovative approaches in theirs. It is true that development is a transformative process that cannot be imposed from outside. That is why ICSC looks to act as a vehicle for local organizations to create spaces for citizens to do their work in their communities. Communities become self-sustaining when they learn about themselves through their own and the experiences of others, allow diverse groups of citizens to engage in the community’s affairs, and promote public work. We could agree that when non-state actors, like the ICSC, promote these practices in local communities they create the opportunity to alleviate intra-country economic and social disparities in the world’s troubled regions. Such local efforts have the potential to not only change the social dynamics in developing communities, but also make those that are developed even better. This is the focus of the ICSC community and it is critical to peace and security around the world.