Abstract
Post-conflict power-sharing arrangements frequently encounter serious implementation gaps at subnational levels, where localized violence can undermine fragile regional macro-agreements. This article examines the operational dynamics and causal mechanisms of Local Peace Committees (LPCs) in mediating post-conflict power-sharing within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines. Utilizing a qualitative process-tracing methodology informed by key informant interviews and field documentation from key conflict-affected municipalities, the study traces how LPCs bridge macro-level elite power-sharing mandates and micro-level security challenges. The empirical findings reveal three primary causal mechanisms: rapid conflict de-escalation through hybrid authority blending customary Islamic law with formal state mechanisms, institutional mediation over local resource allocation, and early-warning information verification between state forces and former combatants. By mitigating local political rivalries and clan feuds (rido), LPCs serve as essential micro-foundations that prevent local violent breakdowns from threatening the broader peace process. The study advances post-conflict governance literature by demonstrating that subnational power-sharing success depends heavily on institutionalized, hybrid grassroots mediation frameworks.
