Media and Conflict Studies examines the role of media in shaping, perpetuating, and potentially resolving conflicts, focusing on how media influences public opinion, peacebuilding efforts, and conflict escalation.
Conflict resolution: Understanding the different ways to resolve conflicts, including negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
Media effects: Analyzing the impact of the media on the perception and escalation of conflict.
War and peace journalism: Understanding how the media covers and reports on conflicts and its role in shaping public opinion.
Propaganda: Understanding the techniques and strategies that media outlets use to influence public opinion and promote specific political agendas.
Framing: Analyzing how media outlets frame conflicts and events, and the impact that various frames have on public opinion and policy making.
Social media and conflict: Understanding the role of social media in shaping attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors related to conflict.
International relations: Understanding the broader context of conflicts, including the role of international organizations, treaties, and agreements in preventing or resolving them.
Peacebuilding: Explore how different actors and entities can work together to promote and sustain peace, while addressing the root causes of conflict.
Cultural and religious conflicts: Analyzing how cultural and religious differences can lead to conflict, and exploring ways to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
Conflict management: Understanding how to manage and resolve conflicts within organizations, communities, and institutions, while promoting a culture of peace and understanding.
Media and War: This type of conflict study looks at the role of the media in shaping public perception of war and conflict. It examines the ways in which media outlets serve as an instrument in the political persuasion of war audiences.
Peace Journalism: Peace Journalism involves the use of professional journalism principles to ensure accuracy, fairness and balance in reporting conflict and looking at them from a solution-based perspective. It advocates positive news focusing on understanding the grievances underlying conflicts and promoting peaceful resolution.
Conflict Resolution: This type of study seeks to understand the roots of conflicts, and how to find ways to resolve them without escalating the situation. It aims at achieving long-term and mutually beneficial relationships between parties and sustainable peace and prosperity.
Critical Security Studies: Critical Security Studies examines the structures of power and domination in the international system, including nations, multinational corporations, media, and the military. It critiques the dominant fear-based and militarised security discourse that often leads to conflict.
Human Rights and Conflict: This type of study examines the relationship between human rights and conflict, looking at the ways in which conflict impacts on human rights, and how human rights can promote peace and security.
Genocide Studies: Genocide Studies examines the causes of genocide, and how organizations and states can prevent or stop it. It is a multidisciplinary field involving politics, history, sociology and psychology.
Peacebuilding and Development: This type of study explores the ways in which peace can be built through effective development strategies. It aims at improving cooperation and trust between actors, reducing poverty and promoting social justice.
Digital Media and Conflict: This type of study examines the impact of digital media and communication technologies in perpetuating or mitigating conflict. It looks at the ways in which social media can foster collective action, and how they can be used to spread misinformation.