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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 1009–1020 of 15430 results

Brief

Effective Governance Responses to Crises: Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic

Research for Policy and Practice Report

Drawing on research from the Covid-19 Responses for Equity (CORE) initiative, this summary highlights key learning from the Covid-19 pandemic on effective decision-making during crises.

27 September 2023

News

African nations spending $1bn a year on harmful surveillance

Governments in Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Malawi, and Zambia are collectively spending at least $1bn a year on digital surveillance technology contracts with companies in the US, UK, China, EU and Israel, new research reveals today. The research, published by the Institute of Development...

27 September 2023

Publication

Tax Treaty Shopping and Developing Countries

ICTD Working Paper 173

Analysis of the international network of double tax treaties reveals a large potential for tax avoidance. Developing countries are, on average, not more likely to suffer from tax revenue losses than other countries. Yet, this average masks the fact that several countries, such as Bangladesh,...

Maarten van ’t Riet

Arjan Lejour

22 September 2023

Opinion

Future health systems: right here, right now

In complex and rapidly changing health systems and societies, there are no realistic transferable blueprints to guide countries’ strategies for accelerating progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Instead, governments must work with a range of actors through innovative partnerships...

21 September 2023

Opinion

How can we get the SDGs back on track?

The 2030 Agenda, with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provides a vision of an aspirational, equitable and just future for all, thriving on a safe and resilient planet. Together with other key multilateral agreements, it provides a compass for reorienting development in a...

20 September 2023

Past Event

Covid-19, pandemic preparedness and response in Uganda and beyond

This seminar shares fieldwork conducted in the Pandemic Preparedness Project, presenting findings related to different meanings and practices of preparedness, and contemporary dynamics related to ‘rethinking’ preparedness. We will give a spotlight to fieldwork in Uganda, where the idea...

20 September 2023

News

Institute of Development Studies seeks new Director

Following ten years of inspirational leadership by Melissa Leach, IDS is now advertising for a new Director to lead the organisation after Melissa steps down in April 2024. The new Director will take forward the organisation’s pioneering work, building on our reputation as one of the...

19 September 2023

Publication

Youth-led Preservation of Syriac Orthodox Heritage in Syria

This report explores the Sayfo genocide, also known as the Asyrian genocide, and a youth-led project that brought together the Syriac Orthodox community in Syria to remember and memorialise those who were killed in the genocide. Produced as part of the IDS-led and British Academy funded...

18 September 2023

Brief

Exploring Female-headed Households’ Sanitation Needs, Tasikmalaya

SLH Learning Paper;17

Female-headed households often get left behind in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programming and policy. This Sanitation Learning Hub Learning Paper presents findings and recommendations for action, from the participatory video research project, ‘Sanitation, health and livelihood issues...

18 September 2023

Opinion

The Sustainable Development Goals: A missed opportunity

The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are at their mid-point of implementation to 2030. Some are claiming there are reasons to be ‘hopeful’, but I am not. I was back in 2015 when they were launched, as they seemed a real opportunity to address transformations to sustainability across...

18 September 2023

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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