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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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Showing 301–312 of 15404 results

Student Opinion

From Brazil to Brighton – reflections on the first term at IDS

Lucas dos Santos Miranda, MA Globalisation, Business & Development student (class of 2025), joined IDS as part of a double master’s programme partnership between IDS and Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). We asked Lucas to tell us a bit about why he joined IDS, his first impressions and his...

Lucas dos Santos Miranda, IDS student

29 January 2025

Past Event

Recasting Development 2025

Join the Institute of Development Studies for our annual event to examine prospects for a recasting of development around the world. Watch now https://www.youtube.com/live/xDvRRAQnoio During 2024 inequality continued to grow, the world experienced its hottest year ever, the war on Gaza...

28 January 2025

Student Opinion

The top three things students ask our careers advisor

Did you know that students at IDS (and graduates for up to three years) have access to a range of skills development opportunities and careers support during their time with us? This includes a regular careers drop-in session with Helen Gorman, Careers and Employability Consultant at the...

Helen Gorman, Careers and Employability Consultant at the University of Sussex

27 January 2025

Opinion

The continuing growth of small towns in Zimbabwe

As the economic geography of Zimbabwe reconfigures following land reform, the growth of small towns continues to be an important phenomenon. No longer is economic growth concentrated in the metropolitan areas where industrial areas have declined, but it’s in small towns. Some of these have...

27 January 2025

News

ICTD welcomes new cohort to 10th edition of its Tax and Development course

The International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD), based at the Institute of Development Studies, has welcomed 25 tax and finance professionals as the latest cohort of its teaching and learning course, which commenced this month.  Delivered by ICTD for 10 years and supported by...

24 January 2025

Student Opinion

Why study international development? Insights from an MA Development student

We spoke to Aranya Sawhney Malik, MA Development Studies student (Class of 2025), about the importance of studying international development, why inclusive and free education is one of India’s most pressing needs, and how she’s planning to tackle it. Interviewer: What were you doing before...

Aranya Sawhney Malik, IDS student

24 January 2025

News

Celebrating the graduates of 2025!

The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) proudly celebrates the graduation of its 2025 cohort, marking a momentous achievement for each of the students who have completed their Master’s or PhDs. These graduates, coming from all over the world, have shown immense dedication to their...

23 January 2025

Student Opinion

Studying at IDS in a time of crisis

Simin Ibnat Dharitree, MA Gender & Development class of 2024, wrote her dissertation on unpaid care in Gaza whilst the uprising in her home country Bangladesh was taking place. In this blog post, Simin talks about the impacts this had on her and the support she received from her IDS classmates...

Simin Ibnat Dharitree, IDS alumni

23 January 2025

Student Opinion

Applying knowledge & skills from the MA Poverty & Development

MA Poverty & Development alumna Molly Charker (class of 2020) works as a strategist at a creative agency for social impact, Shape History, who look after IDS’s web development. She shares how she has applied the knowledge and skills she learnt at IDS to the roles she has secured since...

Molly Charker, IDS alumni

22 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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