On 07th July 2026, the Renaissance Strategic Centre at ARDD, in collaboration with ODI Global, convened the third session of the Local Governance Comparative Approaches Seminars. The series consists of four seminars that collectively explore the evolution from activism to governance, culminating in a policy brief.
The third seminar built upon themes that had emerged throughout the previous discussions. Having explored the mobilization of activist movements and their transition towards local governance, participants turned to two cross-cutting issues that repeatedly surfaced across different country experiences: the role of diaspora communities and the challenge of transitional justice. Although often examined separately, both ultimately revolved around the same underlying question: who possesses the legitimacy to shape political futures in societies experiencing conflict, fragmentation and political transition?
Rather than seeking universal answers, participants explored how legitimacy is continually negotiated between those who remain, those who leave, and those attempting to rebuild institutions amidst ongoing conflict. In doing so, the discussion challenged conventional assumptions about exile and return, justice and reconciliation, and the relationship between activism, governance, and political transformation.
