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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

Hopes for democratic governance: What has changed?

In 1995, an IDS special issue was published called ‘Towards Democratic Governance’. Focused mainly on the global south, the issue pointed at challenges for promoting democracy, but also reflected optimism about democracy being on the rise, and with high hopes that democracy and development...

30 October 2024

News

Social protection needs reinvention, says new Bulletin issue

Social protection needs urgent reimagining in the light of growing pressures and opportunities, according to new research published today in the IDS Bulletin. Social protection provides a lifeline for people living in poverty, and recently the world passed a milestone with more than half...

29 October 2024

Journal

Reimagining Social Protection

IDS Bulletin 55.2

Social protection features in numerous country policies and development agency strategies, as well as in several Sustainable Development Goals. However, following more than two decades of considerable expansion in policies, programmes, and research, the sector finds itself at a...

29 October 2024

Opinion

Unlocking the power of social protection

Two decades ago, IDS published a working paper called ‘Transformative Social Protection’ that would prove to have enormous influence on social protection thinking and development policy. The fundamental idea was that social protection should extend beyond its narrow initial focus on...

Jeremy Lind
Jeremy Lind & 3 others

28 October 2024

Opinion

Navigating uncertainty: a blog compilation

Over the last 8 weeks I have provided a summary of each of the chapters of my new book, Navigating Uncertainty: Radical Rethinking for a Turbulent World. Published by Polity Books, it came out in Europe in August and in the US in October. It’s free to download or you can buy a copy with a...

28 October 2024

Opinion

Global health must be a central pillar of the UK’s reengagement with China

Following Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to Beijing as part of an effort to normalise relations, we need to think through reengagement with China on global health and development. This is important given the background of huge global challenges and a contested international landscape...

24 October 2024

Brief

Key Considerations: Mutual Aid Lessons and Experiences From Emergency Response Rooms in Sudan

SSHAP Briefing

The civil war in the Republic of Sudan, which began in April 2023, has fuelled and exacerbated an already severe humanitarian crisis. As of September 2024, over 25 million people – half the country’s population – need assistance. In response, grassroots movements have emerged, drawing on...

Samantha K. Olson

& 2 others

24 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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