How do armed groups develop? This article from Contemporary Security Policy investigates the formation of armed groups using the concept of figuration, which emphasises the interdependence of individuals. There are three main ways by which armed groups come into being: in response to violent repression, through exclusion from the ruling class and when government-created ...» more
Library
This e-library contains more than 4500 external publications on governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian issues. It includes academic and grey literature selected for its basis in good quality research and coverage of a range of perspectives. Policy-oriented summaries of each document are provided, plus links to the full text.
A Social-Psychological Approach to Conflict Analysis and Resolution
How can social-psychological theory and research inform the analysis and resolution of international conflict? This book chapter from the Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution outlines psychological processes that promote the escalation and perpetuation of conflict. A conflict relationship generates images and norms that entrench conflict and create barriers to change. ...» more
Evaluation in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding
Why is evaluation essential in conflict resolution and peacebuilding work? How can traditional evaluations be adapted for this purpose? This chapter from the Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution examines the difficulties and possibilities of evaluating conflict resolution and peacebuilding initiatives. Renewed attention to evaluation strengthens connections between ...» more
Preventing Violence, War and State Collapse: The Future of Conflict Early Warning and Response
Are early warning and response systems prepared for the conflicts of the future? This report from the OECD reviews recent literature on early warning and response to assess their value and their role in the prevention of violent conflict and for peacebuilding. It concludes that early warning and response systems require further support to ensure their future relevance. ...» more
Building Relational Empathy Through an Interactive Design Process
How can opposing groups move beyond their differences to develop a shared agenda for building peace? This chapter from the Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution discusses an example in which Greek and Turkish Cypriots collaborated to develop a shared strategy for civil society peacebuilding. Structured dialogue supported the development of ‘relational empathy’ between ...» more
Understanding the Conflict-Development Nexus and the Contribution of Development Cooperation to Peacebuilding
How does development cooperation contribute to peacebuilding? This chapter from the Handbook of Conflict Analysis and Resolution examines connections between conflict, security, peace and development. It summarises: (a) research debates about the causes of armed conflict; (b) discourse in the development community on conflict and peace and (c) the influence of these debates and ...» more
Gender and Social Exclusion Analysis How To Note
This guidance note from the UK Department for International Development suggests a structure, methodology and analytical framework for a Gender and Social Exclusion Analysis (GSEA). A GSEA examines who is excluded, plus the processes, impacts and implications of gender inequality and social exclusion. DFID country offices should carry out a GSEA before preparing a Country ...» more
Ethno-Religious Conflicts: Exploring the Role of Religion in Conflict Resolution
How can the religious texts, values and beliefs used to incite conflict be harnessed to promote peace-building and reconciliation? What contributions can faith-based actors make to conflict resolution? This chapter from the SAGE Handbook of Conflict Resolution examines the ways in which religion can be used to inspire both war and peace. The revival of religiously motivated ...» more
Dialogue as a Process for Transforming Relationships
Dialogue is the essence of relationship; its goal is to create new human and political capacities for problem-solving. This chapter in the SAGE Handbook of Conflict Resolution focuses on the definition and practice of dialogue. How does one craft a space for dialogue to unfold? Can it shift attitudes from power politics to relationship building? Sustained dialogue affords new ...» more
Interim Institutions and the Development Process: Opening Spaces for Reform in Cambodia and Indonesia
How can donors facilitate the development of better governance institutions in developing countries? This paper from the Brooks World Poverty Institute analyses current development practice in institution-building through two case studies in Cambodia and Indonesia. It argues that traditional, linear, technically-driven approaches are unproductive due to the inherent ...» more
Institutions and Economic Performance: Implications for African Development
How are sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) institutions helping or hindering economic development? This paper from the Journal of International Development explores current theories on how institutions impact economic growth in SSA. ‘Good’ institutions could be the key to increasing the stagnant economic growth in this region. Any attempt to build ‘good’ institutions must consider the ...» more
Is Clientelism at Work in African Elections? A Study of Voting Behaviour in Kenya and Zambia
Does clientelism play a major role in the voting decisions of African elections? Which factors are most important to African voters when choosing a candidate to vote for? This Afrobarometer working paper argues that clientelism is not a major factor in voting decisions. Instead, voters focus on issues relating to the provision of local public goods and the frequency of an MP's ...» more
Making Reform Work: Institutions, Dispositions and the Improving Health of Bangladesh
What is the role of social attitudes in supporting institutional reform? This article from World Development explores the institutional and social underpinnings of service provision by comparing decentralised health provision in the Bangladesh upazilas (sub-districts) of Rajnagar and Saturia. Regional variation in health outcomes is explained by the presence or absence of a ...» more
A Clash of Emotions: The Politics of Humiliation and Political Violence in the Middle East
What role does emotion play in political violence in the Middle East? Why are discourses of humiliation so pervasive in the region? This article from the European Journal of International Relations explores why humiliation provides such a powerful motivation for political violence. Both militant Islamists and the United States, through its War on Terror, have exacerbated the ...» more
Reconciliation as a Peace-Building Process: Scope and Limits
How is reconciliation understood? What is its role in peacebuilding? This chapter from the SAGE Handbook of Conflict Resolution surveys the study of reconciliation and analyses the Franco-German and South African cases. While not universally applicable models, these two examples hold lessons for both the scope and limitations of reconciliation. Reconciliation has too many ...» more
Do Rights Promote Development?
How do human rights impact on development? Are rights-based agendas useful for addressing issues of social and economic exclusion experienced by the poor? This article from Global Social Policy suggests that while the promotion of rights has become intertwined with development, the evidence of their effect on development policy is mixed. Many rights are difficult to put onto ...» more
Inequality and Human Rights: Who Controls What, When, and How
Are countries with resource distribution inequalities more likely to suffer from higher levels of human rights abuse? This article from the International Studies Quarterlyanalyses data from 162 countries over the period from 1980 to 2004. The results suggest that both income and land inequalities significantly contribute to human rights abuses. Recent reports on the poor human ...» more
From Nominal to Substantive Democracy: The Role and Design of Election Management Bodies
Can effective election administration though Election Management Bodies (EMBs) contribute to the development of substantive democracy? This article from the Law and Development Review examines evidence from elections in Asia, Latin America, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Independent and impartial EMBs vested with broad mandates have succeeded not only ...» more
Conflict Prevention: Theory in Pursuit of Policy and Practice
Why does there seem to be a gap between the promise and the actual pursuit of conflict prevention? How can decision makers devise effective conflict prevention policies? This chapter from the Sage Handbook of Conflict Prevention reviews the concepts, activities, and impacts of conflict prevention, focusing on the ‘primary prevention’ of prospective new conflicts. Policymakers ...» more
Reforming Institutions: Where to Begin?
How can institutions in Pakistan be reformed? This working paper from the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics analyses the current literature on institutional change. For institutional change to happen, cultural belief systems must be shaped in a way that provokes a shift in the institutional power structure. Given the current institutional framework and social ...» more
