Conflict Transformation Research

Transforming protracted sociopolitical conflicts requires the active participation of all stakeholders willing and able to bring about behavioural, relational and structural change. This programme builds on our long-standing experience in analysing and engaging with civil society actors and resistance/liberation movements in war-affected or post-war regions. Its central aim is to support the active participation of conflict stakeholders, both armed and unarmed, in inclusive processes of nonviolent resistance and conflict transformation. It does so by conducting collaborative research, offering capacity-building assistance and providing policy advice regarding the roles of formal and informal actors as peace- and state-building agents in asymmetric state-society conflicts.

• Nonviolent Resistance and Democratic Consolidation
  This research project aims to address the long-term impact of nonviolent resistance on the consolidation of democracy. It seeks to contribute towards a theory of resistance and political change. more >
• Incremental Inclusivity in Peace Process Design
  The project analyses both the pathways to and the effects of ‘incremental inclusivity’ of non-state armed groups and social movements. more >
• From Female Combatants to Post-War Democratic Leaders
  The project collects first-hand and internally-generated knowledge on female combatants’ actual experiences and aspirations in political transformation. more >
• Supporting Women in RLMs in peace and political transitions
  This project seeks to contribute to the empowerment of women (formerly) associated with non-state armed groups as post-war local political or socio-economic leaders. more >
• Salafi-jihadi groups – (De)escalation trajectories and dialogue options
  The project aims to advance knowledge on the patterns, critical junctures and factors of conflict (de)escalation of Salafi-jihadi groups. It also seeks to explore the role of ‘soft power’ dialogue engagement by third-parties. more >
• Preventing Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans
  This participatory research project is conducted together with partner organisations based in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Macedonia. more >
• The Nexus of Peacemaking and Constitution Building
  Through studying a number of country cases and facilitating discussions between experts and practitioners, the project aims to increase knowledge and understanding about the intersection of peacemaking - with a focus on mediation - and constitution making, and to strengthen collaboration between the two fields.  more >
• Non-state security provision and rural policing in Southern Mexico
  The Rural Policing Project aims to understand alternative forms of security provision in rural areas of Southern Mexico that emerged in recent years as responses to criminal violence and the failure of the state to defend its citizens. more >
• Radicalisation Research and Prevention in Germany: Building a Monitoring System and Transfer Platform
  This research project tackles the issue of radicalisation in Germany by improving evidence-based knowledge and by strengthening broad cross-sectoral dissemination and networking. more >
• Security Doctrines in a Changing World: Exploring Asian and Western Policy Strategies towards Africa
  This project engages with historical roots, principles and contemporary practices of South-South Cooperation in an increasingly multipolar world, in the context of wider debates on Global International Relations. more >

In addition to our project work, this programme is also very active in the fields of training, teaching, publishing, consulting and providing policy advice. Thus, we recently edited a book on the factors of transition from armed to nonviolent insurgencies and regularly edit the Berghof Foundation’s publication series “Resistance/liberation movement and transitions to politics” (Transitions Series).

We provide bilateral technical support to political leaders and peacebuilding practitioners in conflict-affected regions such as Colombia, Nepal, the Basque Country and the Palestinian territories, and also offered capacity-building assistance to the Afghan High Peace Council (see Completed Projects). In collaboration with colleagues from the Dialogue, Mediation & Peace Support Structures programme, we facilitate annual negotiation trainings for members of resistance/liberation movements (see From Other Programmes). In addition, we conduct and support research and policy dissemination activities on the impact of terrorist proscription on conflict transformation efforts. We have also conducted various consultancy studies and assignments for inter-governmental agencies such as the European Parliament, European Commission, UNDP and UN Staff College.

Programme director Véronique Dudouet represents the Berghof Foundation at relevant international academic events and teaches classes and modules for students and practitioners on various topics linked to non-state armed groups, civil resistance and conflict transformation. She is also an academic advisor for the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (Washington).