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 49–60 of 15283 results

Opinion

The mirage of a sole appropriate evaluation design

How might evaluation research respond to the complex and emergent nature of holistic community-led development? What does an equitable living partnership between evaluators and researchers, funders and programme implementers look and feel like? What are the highs and lows of navigating...

Marina Apgar
Marina Apgar & 2 others

14 April 2025

Opinion

Humanitarian crisis in Myanmar after the earthquake: Challenges under the military junta

On 28 March 2025, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar, a country going through a civil war and an already worsening humanitarian crisis under the military junta. The earthquake was the most powerful earthquake to hit Myanmar in decades, causing widespread devastation across...

Anonymous, former IDS student from Myanmar

14 April 2025

Working Paper

Politicisation and the Role of Business in Trade Negotiations

IDS Working Paper 620

The changing geo-political landscape has shifted focus from generalised normative preferences in trade policy towards more realist goals that seek to create the best advantage for a country under given circumstances. Consequently, as trade issues have become linked to polarised debates including...

Amrita Saha
Amrita Saha & 3 others

11 April 2025

News

Calls to prioritise climate finance as global budgets squeezed

IDS researchers are calling for a renewed focus on climate finance commitments to support adaptation and loss for those worst impacted by climate change, amid widespread cuts to development budgets. One researcher describes recent Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding cuts to climate...

10 April 2025

Past Event

Dynamics of far-right transnationalisation in Europe

Hear Manuela Caiani, Associate Professor in Political Science at the Scuola Normale Superiore discuss how far-right political movements and ideas are spreading internationally. The transnationalisation of illiberal parties and social movements is increasingly evident in Europe. Not only do they...

10 April 2025

News

Recent graduates author IDS Working Paper on food security

IDS graduates Callum Chapman and Norma Jean Park (MA Food & Development, Class of 2024) were lead authors on the IDS Working Paper Towards Transformative Change: Grass-roots Innovations for Food Security During Crises in Brighton & Hove, UK. This Working Paper analyses the emergence and...

7 April 2025

Opinion

ODA cuts and healthcare devastation in South Sudan

Poor countries are reeling from the sudden and wide-ranging US aid cuts. Among the worst affected is South Sudan, a poor country which gained independence in July 2011. South Sudan relies on international assistance to provide basic services to its people. These cuts will devastate South...

7 April 2025

Publication

Powering Change: The Critical Role of Women and Youth in Sustainable Energy Transformation

Research for Policy and Practice

How do we build economic systems that recognise and work within the biophysical limits of our finite planet while simultaneously reducing poverty and inequality? This has become a defining question of our time, and the global transition to clean energy is increasingly considered an important...

Bipasha Baruah & 9 others

7 April 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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