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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 397–408 of 15404 results

News

Deadline brought forward for ESRC-funded PhD scholarships

Each year the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funds a number of scholarships for research in the social sciences, via the South East Doctoral Training Arc (SEDarc) partnership. Potential IDS PhD researchers can apply via our partner the University of Sussex but should note that...

7 November 2024

Past Event

Mobilising social science for humanitarian action: insights and lessons

This webinar will share key learnings from the Social Science in Humanitarian Action Platform’s mobilisation of evidence and expertise on the social dimensions of diseases outbreaks, health emergencies and humanitarian crises to improve preparedness and response. Watch now (English...

7 November 2024

Working Paper

Was There a Famine in Gaza in 2024?

IDS Working Paper 613

This paper assesses the extent to which a famine occurred in Gaza. It concludes that, whilst the answer depends on which definition of famine is used, Israel’s use of food as a weapon of war against civilians in Gaza caused avoidable hunger and starvation deaths, and almost certainly...

5 November 2024

Brief

SSHAP West Africa Hub: Addressing the Kush Epidemic in Sierra Leone

SSHAP Briefing

Sierra Leone has seen a sharp rise in the use of ‘kush’ – a relatively new drug formed through mixing several constituent drugs, including opioids, which is proving highly addictive and is having serious negative health and social consequences. In April 2024, the government declared a...

4 November 2024

News

New resources to learn about and advocate for participatory methods

The IDS Participation, Inclusion and Social Change cluster is excited to announce the launch of the newly revamped ‘Participatory Methods’ website. The relaunch brings an array of new features and refreshed content to help users find relevant content to aid them in engaging with...

4 November 2024

Brief

Key Considerations: Female Genital Mutilation Among Sudanese Displaced Populations in Egypt

SSHAP Briefing

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a deeply entrenched cultural practice involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is recognised as a severe violation of human rights. Worldwide, four million girls are subjected to this practice each...

Meral Marouf

31 October 2024

Brief

Fellow’s Brief: Addressing the Humanitarian Needs of Forced Rural-to-City Migrants in North-West Nigeria with a Focus on Mental Health Vulnerability

SSHAP Briefing

This brief explores the humanitarian needs of forced rural area-to-city migrants in the north-west of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with an emphasis on their vulnerability to mental health challenges. The brief presents key considerations in addressing the humanitarian needs and...

31 October 2024

Brief

Global Clean Energy Policy and the Inclusion of Women and Youth

CEDCA Clean Energy Brief 1

This Clean Energy Brief assesses the available evidence, opportunities, and challenges for the inclusion of women and youth, through micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), for global clean energy policy innovations. In this context, policy innovations are understood to be the...

31 October 2024

Working Paper

Social Assistance and Coping With Crises in Borno, Nigeria

BASIC Research Working Paper 31

This paper examines the relationship between social assistance, violent conflict, and intersecting crises, and considers how social assistance can help offset erosive forms of coping that could otherwise drive poverty and food insecurity.

Vidya Diwakar
Vidya Diwakar & 4 others

31 October 2024

Past Event

UN careers panel

Many students come to IDS with experience in the UN or aspirations for a career in the UN system. This event gives them the opportunity to learn about the realities of such a career and the opportunity to connect with and gain insights from former and current UN employees and interns. Watch...

31 October 2024

Publication

Water Sustainability in Lebanon

This K4DD Rapid Evidence Review covers four facets of Lebanon’s water resources. The first is an overview of water sustainability issues in Lebanon, ranging from policies to politics affecting the use, treatment and distribution of water. The second section considers the question of equality...

30 October 2024

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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