Conflict and Violence

Our work provides a nuanced and realistic understanding of the relationship between violence, conflict, security and development. It aims to help policymakers, practitioners and citizens to develop policies and practices that strengthen people’s efforts to secure their own lives and livelihoods and improve the functioning of political institutions responsible for security and the management and prevention of conflict, and for the development of peace.

We examine the multiple layers and contexts in which violence manifests – from household to state and global level – and pinpoint the links and overlaps between these layers. This includes exploring the nature of, and responses to conflict and violence in rapidly expanding urban areas.  We have a done pioneering work on the dynamics of micro-level conflict, violence and development as well as on citizen action in violent contexts. Our research on gender, men and masculinities and gender-based violence has provided new insights on how to change attitudes, norms and behaviours for equality, peace and justice.

Another focal area is the dynamics of policy processes around conflict, violence and security examining the key framing and narratives. We explore non-traditional forms of security, especially linked to water, energy, food and health as well as post conflict and state building issues affecting service delivery and livelihoods, and are also developing new participatory approaches to peacebuilding. 

People

Patricia Justino

Professorial Fellow

Rebecca Mitchell

Postgraduate Researcher and Programme Manager

Gauthier Marchais

Research Fellow

Jeremy Allouche

Professorial Fellow

Jeremy Lind

Professorial Fellow

Juan Carlos Muñoz-Mora

Post Doctoral Researcher

Marinella Leone

Research Fellow

Robin Luckham

Emeritus Fellow

Programmes and centres

Recent work

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Upcoming Event

Food Equity Centre

Power relationships and aquaculture livelihoods in Vietnam

Join us for this seminar that explores different kinds of power relationships that influence people’s access to resources, livelihood options and sustainability outcomes. This seminar looks at a case study of aquaculture production systems in northern Vietnam and the power relationships...

15 July 2025

Upcoming Event

Dignity in development: Evidence and gaps in respecting people worldwide

The development sector proclaims that it values dignity. Yet it often breaks this promise, with people leaving encounters with charities feeling bruised and unseen. In this seminar, Tom Wein examines dignity as a core value around the world, drawing on his in-progress research for the future...

19 June 2025

Upcoming Event

CEDCA Panel: Powering change: Women, youth, and the clean energy revolution

In this virtual panel event, we will bring together experts from various regions to address a critical challenge of our time: ensuring that women and youth are not left behind in the global transition to clean energy. Gender equity needs to be at the centre of clean energy policies or...

12 June 2025

Upcoming Event

Social Protection: Financing in crises

Join us to explore how social protection can be better financed in protracted crises. This event shares new research findings and brings together key voices to discuss current challenges, funding gaps, and what needs to change ahead of the upcoming Financing for Development...

12 June 2025

Upcoming Event

Multilateralism at a crossroads

Join this high-level event Multilateralism at a crossroads: Transforming challenges into opportunities for a sustainable future, with senior representatives from Brazil, South Africa and Spain, along with expert speakers for discussion and Q&A. Multilateralism is facing significant...

4 June 2025

News

ICTD Launches new Community of Practice on Informality and Tax

The International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD), based at the Institute of Development Studies, is launching a Community of Practice (CoP) on Informality and Tax, a global network of practitioners and scholars committed to improving both knowledge and policy on how tax authorities engage...

28 May 2025

Brief

Key considerations: Introducing experimental vaccines during health emergencies

SSHAP Briefing

This brief provides an overview of the experimental stages of vaccine development during a disease outbreak and highlights key considerations at each stage from a social science perspective. This brief complements a recent SSHAP publication that synthesised social and behavioural science (SBS)...

28 May 2025

Why learn with us.

In an extraordinary time of challenge and change, we use more than 50 years of expertise to transform development approaches that create more equitable and sustainable futures. The work you do with us will help make progressive change towards universal development; to build and connect solidarities for collective action, locally and globally. The University of Sussex has been ranked 1st in the world for Development Studies for the past five years (QS World University Rankings by Subject).

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