Communal conflict

Research at the Department related to the topic of communal conflict.

Durable Resolution of Communal Conflicts

Project leader: Emma Elfversson

How is sustainable peace achieved in situations of local communal conflict? This project explores the role of the state and non-state actors in addressing such conflicts, focusing on cases in Africa. It investigates the dynamics between local conflict resolution processes and central government strategies, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. Case studies focus on communal conflicts in Kenya.

THE URBAN DILEMMA: URBANISATION AND ETHNOCOMMUNAL CONFLICT

Project leader: Emma Elfversson

Urbanisation simultaneously holds a strong potential for progress and democracy-enhancement, and for destructive and violence-inducing dynamics, a fact encapsulated in the notion of an “urban dilemma”. This project seeks to advance knowledge on why urbanisation brings with it intensified ethnic grievances and increasing levels of inter-group violence in the cities in some cases, but not in others, combining quantitative methods with in-depth field research in Addis Abeba, Kampala, and Nairobi.

Water: Conflict and Cooperation

Project leader: Stefan Döring

This research uses geo-referenced conflict and water data, mostly covering Africa and the Middle East. A particular focus of this work lies in improving conflict analysis by utilising insights from hydrology. On one hand, the research deals with water as a potential source for violent conflict between non-state groups, e.g. in communal disputes or fighting between rebel groups. But the project also examines where water is used to cooperate peacefully.