International peace and conflict research

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The peace and conflict studies is a political science sub-discipline of International Relations . The subject of research are domestic and international political conflicts . In addition to political science peace research, one of the two sub-disciplines is socio-psychological conflict research . Description and empiricism are two scientific methods that international peace and conflict research uses to analyze and evaluate international political conflicts.

Research questions

International peace and conflict research deals with the characterization of international conflicts, their causes ( necessary and sufficient factors), course, prevention , solution and conflict costs .

The normative goal of international peace and conflict research is an effective and lasting solution to the conflict and thus peace. The first step is de-escalation (e.g. cessation of combat operations, reduction of open aggression). The second step is to initiate communication between the conflicting parties. In the third step, the actual conflict of interests is worked out and a mutual understanding of the conflicting parties for the interests of the other is developed. For this it is not only necessary to understand and respect the underlying values, but also to disclose any information about the past conflict. Only then can a conflict solution be jointly developed through mediation . The mediator must keep the same distance from both conflict parties in order to be trustworthy for both sides. The last step is the reconciliation of the conflicting parties and thus the reduction of divisive factors (prejudice, hatred and disinformation) as well as the laying of the foundation stone for forgiveness and the willingness to open a new chapter together. This can be achieved by means of a truth and reconciliation commission , the introduction of peacemaking policy content ( Policy ), institutions ( Polity ) and a public debate ( Politics , more precisely: public relations ) as well as through (peacemaking) religious sermons.

There are different perspectives regarding the causes of (violent) conflicts within states. One approach assumes that conflicts arise primarily due to perceived or de facto existing conflicts of interest and dissatisfaction. Examples include ethnic discrimination, a lack of political participation, unequal access to resources and cultural oppression. Constructivist and post-structuralist authors emphasize that such dissatisfactions are at least partially not objective, but are constructed (e.g. by violent entrepreneurs or extremist groups). Other researchers, on the other hand, emphasize that there is enough tension in any society to trigger violent conflict. The outbreak of such conflicts depends primarily on the opportunity structures faced by potential rebels. Weak statehood, external or internal sources of finance, areas of retreat and good recruiting opportunities for combatants are just a few examples. Paul Collier and Anke Hoeffler even assume that civil wars break out mainly when the greatest possible number of relevant actors offer opportunities for enrichment.

The causes of international and interstate conflicts can be just as diverse. In addition to attempts by states to maximize their power, resource base or security, perceived dissatisfaction, threat perceptions and traditional hostilities also play an important role here.

International peace and conflict research focuses on disputes between states or ethnic groups, organizations, interest groups and people. Peace researchers in German-speaking countries have formed the Working Group for Peace and Conflict Research since the crisis year 1968 .

Teaching

The number of postgraduate courses with a focus on international peace and conflict research has increased sharply in recent years. At the moment the Universities of Augsburg , Hamburg , Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main (in cooperation with the Technical University Darmstadt ), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen , Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and Philipps University Marburg offer consecutive Master’s degrees in the field of international peace - and conflict research. These universities have been cooperating in teaching since 2016 through the organization of so-called "ring seminars", in which the universities (together with the universities of Freiburg , Mainz and temporarily Düsseldorf ) offer a digitally networked course in the summer semester. Results are u. a. eLearning offers for the public, for example for conflict analysis. There are related courses at the universities of Duisburg-Essen , Konstanz and the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences in Berlin .

In Great Britain and the USA, peace and conflict studies , war studies and conflict resolution have long been part of university teaching.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Ted Robert Gurr: Why Men Rebel . Princeton University Press, Princeton 1970, ISBN 0-691-07528-X .
  2. ^ Stuart J. Kaufman: Modern Hatreds: The Symbolic Politics of Ehnic Wars . Cornell University Press, Ithaca.
  3. ↑ James D. Fearon, David D. Laitin: Ethnicity, Insurgency, and Civil War . In: American Political Science Review . tape 97 , no. 1 , 2003, ISSN  1537-5943 , p. 75-90 , doi : 10.1017 / S0003055403000534 ( cambridge.org [accessed June 1, 2017]).
  4. ↑ Paul Collier, Anke Hoeffler: Greed and Grievance in Civil War . In: Oxford Economic Papers . tape 56 , no. 4 , 2004, ISSN  0030-7653 , p. 563-595 , doi : 10.1093 / oep / gpf064 ( oup.com [accessed June 1, 2017]).
  5. ^ Hans Morgenthau: Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace . Alfred A. Knopf, New York 1948.
  6. ↑ Kenneth N. Waltz: Theory of International Politics . McGraw-Hill, Boston 1979.
  7. ↑ Alexander Wendt: Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics . In: International Organization . tape 46 , no. 2 , 1992, p. 391-425 ( cambridge.org [accessed June 1, 2017]).
  8. ^ Paul F. Diehl, Gary Goertz: War and Peace in International Rivalry . University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor 2000.
  9. ↑ https://afk-web.de/cms/masterstudiengaenge-im-bereich-friedens-und-konfliktforschung-im-deutschsprachigen-raum/
  10. ↑ Friedrich Plank, Ingo Henneberg, Alexander Kobusch, et al .: Cross-location teaching in political science: the benefits and contributions of an innovative ring seminar . In: Political quarterly . tape 60 , no. 1 , March 2019, ISSN  0032-3470 , p. 127–146 , doi : 10.1007 / s11615-018-0110-z ( springer.com [accessed April 27, 2020]).
  11. ↑ Structured conflict analysis. University of Freiburg, April 2020 (German).

literature

  • Tobias Ide (Ed.): Peace and Conflict Research . Leverkusen, Barbara Budrich / UTB, ISBN 978-3-8252-8699-6 . ( Introduction to Peace and Conflict Research )
  • Andreas M. Bock / Ingo Henneberg (eds.): Iran, the bomb and the pursuit of security. Structured conflict analyzes . Baden-Baden, Nomos 2014, ISBN 978-3-8487-0802-4 . (Introduction to structured conflict analysis )
  • Berthold Meyer: Conflict Regulation and Peace Strategies: An Introduction. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2011, ISBN 978-3531178950 . (Introduction / textbook )
  • Hans J. Giessmann, Bernhard Rinke (Ed.): Handbook Peace. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2011, ISBN 978-3531160115 . (Dealing with the term peace; peace theories )
  • Peter Schlotter, Simone Wisotzki (ed.): Peace and conflict research. Baden-Baden, Nomos 2011, ISBN 978-3832934705 . (Overview volume )
  • Thomas Jäger, Rasmus Beckmann (ed.): Handbook of war theories. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2011, ISBN 978-3531179339 . (Dealing with war theories )
  • Thorsten Bonacker (Ed.): Social-scientific conflict theories: An introduction (peace and conflict research). VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2008, ISBN 978-3531161808 . (Summary of important conflict theories, sociological focus )

See also