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 97–108 of 15287 results

Brief

Local Self-Governance on the Somalia–Kenya Border

IDS Policy Briefing 219

Thirty years of civil war, insurgency, and counterinsurgency in Somalia and neighbouring northeastern Kenya have hollowed out state services and left borderland communities beleaguered. Yet in this apparently ‘ungoverned’ space, local self-governance persists. Citizen-led reflection shows...

24 March 2025

News

Community initiatives vital for addressing Brighton & Hove food poverty

Initiatives led by grassroots organisations and community projects in Brighton & Hove are filling in the gaps left by failing welfare and food systems, according to new research released today.  The new research, from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), found that initiatives...

19 March 2025

Opinion

What is the future of funding for international development?

International development and global humanitarian assistance has been uprooted at the beginning of 2025 due to a series of budget cuts announced to Official Development Assistance (ODA). Most notably, the USAID funding freeze caused shockwaves around the world, removing life-saving assistance...

19 March 2025

Brief

Is Poverty Underestimated Because Males and Females Report Food Security and Food Expenses Differently?

BASIC Research Research Briefing 4

Does the gender of household survey respondents affect the accuracy of reported food consumption? Findings from a randomisation-based survey of beneficiary households in the Productive Safety Net Programme in Ethiopia suggest that it might – with implications for the targeting of such programmes.

19 March 2025

Past Event

Sussex Development Lectures

Humanitarian diplomacy in a world gone mad

Join us for this Sussex Development Lecture with Martin Griffiths, former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations, as part of the series on power, politics and hope. Watch now https://www.youtube.com/live/yxk57iwGJWo Martin...

19 March 2025

Opinion

Design and Development: A Dialogue part 2

Are designers doing development? Do development professionals practise design? Designers and development practitioners have in common that they try to (re)shape the future. They make financial, material, practical, processual, and institutional interventions to change lives and improve outcomes,...

Dominic Glover
Dominic Glover & 4 others

18 March 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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