Abstract:
This dissertation is a qualitative case study of permaculture, a sustainable agriculture
model based on bio-mimicry, in postconflict El Salvador. The case study is intended to be
both descriptive and theory-building by providing empirically grounded insights into
permaculture as a peacebuilding tool. A grounded theory investigation into permaculture
practitioners’ experiences revealed that permaculture is a holistic peacebuilding model
that addresses war-induced environmental damage and postconflict structural violence.
Permaculture impacts multiple dimensions of practitioners’ lives, functions as sustainable
livelihood education, contributes to the eco-localization of economies, and builds community
between individuals while also creating a relationship of agency between natural
environments and permaculture practitioners.
