Conflict and Peacebuilding

Home > Political science > International Relations > Conflict and Peacebuilding

The study of conflict and the methods and institutions for resolving conflicts and building peace among states and within them.

Conflict Theory: A theoretical framework for understanding the root causes of conflict and how it is perpetuated within societies.
Peacebuilding: A process of establishing and maintaining peace in areas that have experienced conflict or violence.
International Relations: A study of the political, economic, and social interactions between states and other actors in the international system.
Mediation: A process of facilitating communication between conflicting parties with the aim of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.
Negotiation: A process of discussion and compromise to reach a mutually acceptable solution, often in the context of international diplomacy.
Diplomacy: The art of negotiating, managing and executing agreements or arrangements between states and international actors.
International Law: The rules and regulations that govern the behavior of states and other actors in the international system.
Human Rights: Fundamental rights that are inherent to all people, regardless of their nationality or other status, and which are protected by law.
Conflict Resolution: A process of addressing and resolving conflicts with the aim of preventing further violence or harm.
Transitional Justice: A set of legal and institutional measures taken after a conflict or human rights abuse to provide accountability, justice, and reconciliation.
Peacekeeping: A process of deploying international military or civilian personnel to support and maintain peace in conflict-prone areas.
Humanitarian Intervention: The use of military force by external actors to protect civilians or prevent human rights abuses.
Diversity and Inclusion: The recognition and acceptance of differences in individuals and groups based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and religion.
Gender and Conflict: The impact of gender on conflict dynamics, and approaches to addressing gender-based violence and discrimination in conflict and post-conflict contexts.
Non-Violent Communication: A communication technique that emphasizes active listening, empathy, and mutual understanding as a way to resolve conflicts peacefully.
Conflict Mapping: A technique for analyzing the root causes of conflict, the actors involved, and the potential drivers and consequences.
Peace Economics: The study of the economic factors that contribute to peace and stability in a country or region, including approaches to development, trade, and investment.
Reconciliation: A process of rebuilding relationships between individuals or groups after conflict or violence, often through a combination of dialogue, collaboration, and symbolic gestures.
Civic Engagement: The active participation of citizens in their communities and political processes, including efforts to promote peace, justice, and human rights.
Conflict Transformation: A holistic approach to addressing conflict that goes beyond mere resolution, and aims to transform relationships, power dynamics, and social norms to prevent future conflict.
Interstate conflict This occurs between two or more sovereign states or nations.: Interstate conflict refers to hostilities and clashes between two or more independent states or nations.
Intrastate conflict This occurs within one state, usually involving groups seeking independence, religious or ethnic domination, or control of resources.: Intrastate conflict refers to violent conflicts that take place within a single state, wherein various factions strive for independence, religious or ethnic supremacy, or control over resources.
Identity conflict This involves conflicts sparked by differences in identity, such as racial or ethnic differences.: Identity conflict refers to conflicts arising from divergent racial, ethnic, or other forms of identity that lead to tensions and hostilities between different groups or communities.
Resource conflict Conflicts over scarce resources, such as water, oil, or land.: Resource conflict refers to disputes and violent tensions resulting from competition for limited and essential resources, which may range from natural resources like water, oil, or land to other strategic assets.
Border conflict Disputes over national borders or territorial claims.: Border conflict refers to disputes over national borders or territorial claims between two or more countries, which often involve political, economic, and security issues.
Ideological conflict Conflicts over ideology such as political systems, religious beliefs, or economic models.: Ideological conflict refers to conflicts arising from clashes in political systems, religious beliefs, or economic models among individuals or groups within a society or between nations.
Cultural conflict Conflicts grounded in cultural differences, values, and norms.: Cultural conflict refers to conflicts that arise from differences in cultural backgrounds, including values, beliefs, and norms, often leading to tensions and misunderstandings between individuals or groups.
Economic conflict Conflicts-centered around uneven economic development or distributing resources.: Economic conflict refers to conflicts that arise due to disparities in economic development or the distribution of resources among different groups or regions within a society or between nations.
Environmental conflict Conflicts over access, control, or use of critical environmental resources.: Environmental conflict refers to disputes that arise due to competing interests and disagreements over the access, control, or use of vital environmental resources.
Proliferation conflict Conflicts over the spread of weapons of mass destruction or rocket technology.: Proliferation conflict refers to conflicts arising from the challenges and risks associated with the increasing spread of weapons of mass destruction or rocket technology among states or non-state actors.
Cyber conflict A type of armed conflict that occurs in cyberspace, targeting security, communication, transportation, and other critical systems.: Cyber conflict refers to the use of digital tools and technologies in acts of aggression and warfare, encompassing attacks on crucial systems like security, communication, and transportation infrastructures in cyberspace.
Territorial conflict Conflicts centered around control, access, and division of territories.: Territorial conflict refers to disputes and tensions arising from disagreements over the ownership, use or boundaries of specific geographic areas.
Diplomatic Measures: Diplomatic measures refer to diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving conflicts, fostering peace, and promoting cooperation through negotiations, mediation, and dialogue.
Negotiations: Negotiations in political science and conflict and peacebuilding refer to the process of reaching mutually acceptable agreements or settlements between parties involved in disputes or conflicts through communication and compromise.
Mediation: Mediation is a peacebuilding process in political science involving a neutral third party facilitating negotiations and dialogue between conflicting parties to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.
Arbitration: Arbitration is a method of resolving disputes between parties by appointing a neutral third party to make binding decisions based on evidence and arguments presented by both sides.
Economic Measures: Economic measures in political science and conflict and peacebuilding refer to the use of economic tools such as sanctions, trade policies, or aid to exert influence or create incentives to manage conflicts or promote peace.
Reconciliation: Reconciliation refers to the process of addressing, healing, and restoring relationships between individuals or groups after a period of conflict or oppression.
Religious Peacebuilding: The topic of Religious Peacebuilding focuses on understanding and promoting peace and reconciliation through religious beliefs, values, and practices.
Track 1 Diplomacy: Track 1 Diplomacy refers to official government-to-government negotiations and diplomatic efforts conducted by formal representatives to address conflicts and facilitate peacebuilding.
Track 2 Diplomacy: Track 2 Diplomacy refers to informal and non-governmental efforts that facilitate dialogue and negotiation between conflicting parties as a means to achieve peace and resolve conflicts.
Track 3 Diplomacy: Track 3 Diplomacy refers to the non-governmental and informal dialogue processes that aim to facilitate peace and resolve conflicts through the involvement of civil society actors, academic experts, and other non-official stakeholders.
Transitional Justice: Transitional Justice refers to the processes and measures taken to address human rights abuses and promote accountability, reconciliation, and societal healing during transitions from conflict or authoritarian rule to democracy or peace.
Humanitarian Aid: The topic of humanitarian aid examines the provision of material and financial assistance as well as other forms of support to alleviate suffering and promote well-being for those affected by conflicts and natural disasters.
Peacekeeping Operations: Peacekeeping Operations refers to the deployment of international forces to conflict-ridden regions with the aim of preventing or resolving disputes, facilitating peace negotiations, and maintaining stability.
"Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution."
"Committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of the group."
"Dimensions of resolution typically parallel the dimensions of conflict in the way the conflict is processed."
"Cognitive resolution is the way disputants understand and view the conflict, with beliefs, perspectives, understandings, and attitudes."
"Emotional resolution is in the way disputants feel about a conflict, the emotional energy."
"Behavioral resolution is reflective of how the disputants act, their behavior."
"A wide range of methods and procedures for addressing conflict exist, including negotiation, mediation, mediation-arbitration, diplomacy, and creative peacebuilding."
"The term conflict resolution may also be used interchangeably with dispute resolution, where arbitration and litigation processes are critically involved."
"The concept of conflict resolution can be thought to encompass the use of nonviolent resistance measures by conflicted parties in an attempt to promote effective resolution."
"Conflict resolution is involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution."
"Committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of the group."
"Cognitive resolution allows disputants to understand and view the conflict from different perspectives, beliefs, and attitudes."
"The emotional resolution involves the way disputants feel about a conflict and the emotional energy they bring to the resolution process."
"Behavioral resolution reflects the actions and behaviors of the disputants during the conflict resolution process."
"Some examples of methods for addressing conflict include negotiation, mediation, mediation-arbitration, diplomacy, and creative peacebuilding."
"The term conflict resolution may also be used interchangeably with dispute resolution, where arbitration and litigation processes are critically involved."
"The use of nonviolent resistance measures by conflicted parties is aimed at promoting effective resolution."
"Conflict resolution plays a role in creative peacebuilding and contributes to building a peaceful environment."
"Committed group members resolve conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies."
"The understanding and addressing of conflicting beliefs is an essential aspect of the conflict resolution process."