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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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Past Event

Negotiating Protocols of the UN Tax Convention

This workshop is aimed at tax experts and non-tax practitioners engaging in the negotiations of the protocols of the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax. Join the IDS-based International Centre for Tax and Development and the International Institute for Sustainable...

4 February 2025

Opinion

New businesses in small towns in Zimbabwe

What are the new businesses being established in the small towns of Zimbabwe? As the last blog has illustrated our long-term study of Mvurwi, Chatsworth and Maphisa shows a variety of changes, with different drivers associated. There are varying links too with a changing agriculture, but what is...

3 February 2025

Opinion

The turbulence and the toll of the USAID freeze

The election of President Donald Trump has ushered in a sharp turn of direction for the US government in its domestic and international engagement. Since his inauguration on 20 January, President Trump has been quick to enact policy change, including freezing all international development...

3 February 2025

Student Opinion

Being part of powerful network working for social change

Bruna Viana de Freitas studied MA Power, Participation & Social Change (MAP) at IDS in 2021-22 and went on to set up Cúrcuma, a consultancy working with participatory approaches for justice and inclusion, mainly focusing on socioenvironmental and human rights fields. In this blog post, Bruna...

Bruna Viana de Freitas, IDS alumna

31 January 2025

News

Podcast: Evidence for hope – the emerging sustainability revolution

Understanding and advancing how evidence can be used to inform decisions to improve people’s lives is a crucial priority for IDS. This is especially important for evidence-led solutions that need to balance between social, economic, and environmental domains to achieve...

31 January 2025

News

MA Food & Development – learning beyond the classroom

Food is a cross-cutting development issue that concerns hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition, environment sustainability, power, politics, social justice and cultural identity. As such, the MA Food & Development course attracts a creative and passionate cohort of scholars committed to exploring...

30 January 2025

Student Opinion

Studying for a career at the intersection of development and climate

Pedro Sanches de Frias, currently studying MSc Climate Change, Development and Policy, is one of the first students taking part in a double master’s programme as a result of our partnership with Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (FGV EAESP). This partnership offers students...

Pedro Sanches de Frias

30 January 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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