Peace Studies Research Articles

‘Well, our goal is to achieve sustainable quiet and security for our people’: Negotiating calls for ceasefires in the Gaza war of 2014 in mainstream English news media by Israeli spokespersons

In this study, we examined how calls for ceasefires were negotiated by Israeli spokespersons in mainstream English news media during one instance of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: the Gaza War of 2014. Recent scholarship in peace studies has begun to examine how ‘peace’ and ‘violence’ are variously constructed to advance vested positions. We extend this focus through a discursive psychological examination of another ostensibly desirable outcome in conflicts, namely ‘ceasefire’. Findings show that the desirability of ceasefires and their negotiation is closely bound to the management of stake and interest by both media persons and Israeli spokespersons. The latter neither explicitly rejected nor accepted calls for ceasefires. Instead, they downgraded ceasefires in favour of other versions of cessation of conflict, framed as ‘sustainable peace’. This allowed for the non-acceptance of ceasefires while, paradoxically, justifying ongoing and further military actions in Gaza. Together, these findings point to the relevance of psychological practices of justifying, managing stake, and avoiding seeming committed to violence in talking about conflict and peace. Findings are discussed in relation to research in peace and political psychology, and implications for the ongoing attacks on Gaza.

Furthering relational approaches to peace

Relational scholarship is burgeoning across the social sciences and gaining ground in peace and conflict studies. But relationalism is prone to misunderstanding. This article demonstrates that the ‘relational’ is an ontological orientation, with foundational implications for how social scientists know the world, rather than a methodological stance oriented to relationships. It offers a threefold framework that clarifies forms of relational-ontological scholarship and the trade-offs among them without prescribing the methods of relational research. It argues that while all forms of relational-ontological scholarship have value, those that give greater emphasis to relations than to entities help to better analyse dynamism and diversity, and that the normative value of relational approaches lies in considering peace as an effect of relations and turning to relations-in-themselves.

Local Meanings of Peace: The Politics of Words and Emotional Labor among Civil Society Practitioners in Armenia and Turkey

Abstract Despite their long-lasting work in Armenia and Turkey, peacebuilding practitioners of civil society have an ambivalent relationship with the term peace and refrain from defining their role as peacebuilders. Informed by the anthropological research adopting the local turn in peace and conflict studies, we explore how civil society practitioners in Armenia and Turkey perceive the concept of “peace” (խաղաղություն or khaghaghutyun in Armenian and barış in Turkish) and how they position themselves regarding the meanings they attach to this term. In this paper, we present data collected through semi-structured interviews with civil society practitioners from both countries, investigating the perceptions and practices in the aftermath of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. We found that the flexibility of the term normalization in comparison to peacebuilding is preferred among civil society practitioners working for the Armenia-Turkey dialogue. We also show that the political context shapes local meanings of the word peace. While in Turkey, the authoritarian regime, restrictions on NGOs, and rise of ultranationalism make open advocacy for peace with Armenia difficult and risky, the war with Azerbaijan firmly structures where and how the word peace can be used in Armenia – even though it is not clear what is meant by it in either case. Finally, our research points out a neglected aspect of professionalism in this context and shows how it requires emotional labor to suppress enthusiasm and hope for peace. We close our paper with a call for further research among the youth and exploration of effective communication, alternative approaches, and terminologies that can foster meaningful dialogue and reconciliation without provoking divisive sentiments.

Revisiting inter‐Korean events and South Koreans’ perception on unification

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to examine how inter‐Korean events influence South Korean public opinion on unification. It seeks to understand the impact of various political events, including South‐North contacts and North Korean nuclear provocations, on South Koreans' attitudes towards unification.MethodsUsing annual survey data from the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University (IPUS), this study creates a novel time‐series dataset spanning from 2007 to 2021. We test how each of the inter‐Korean political events affects support for unification and how key individual dispositions moderate the level of support.ResultsThe empirical findings reveal that inter‐Korean summits and family reunions positively affect unification sentiment, with family reunions showing surprisingly stronger impacts than inter‐Korean summits. Regarding North Korea's provocations, nuclear tests negatively influence public support for unification, while ballistic missile launches do not significantly impact unification sentiment, likely due to public habituation.ConclusionThis study contributes to existing literature by providing new empirical insights into the relationship between inter‐Korean political events and public opinion. The findings suggest that policymakers should focus on strategic short‐term initiatives, particularly increasing inter‐Korean contacts, to foster long‐term positive sentiment towards unification. However, it's important to note that individual variables become more influential in shaping public opinion over the long term.

Understanding higher education as a conflictual field. Situational dynamics of peace and conflict in Senegalese universities

ABSTRACT Analyses of universities in peace and conflict studies predominantly draw on micro-, meso- or macro-level lenses which portray universities as conflict-prone or peace-conducive. While these perspectives only allow for a limited understanding of higher education as a conflictual field, I propose that the methodology of situational analysis is better suited to understand the complex dynamics of peace and conflict in universities. Building on ethnographic research in three Senegalese universities, the situational analysis of student housing reveals how conflicts over political power, access to resources and competition in a precarious lifeworld emerge situationally. Simultaneously, the conflictual field of higher education is characterised by practices of cooperation and solidary relations. By allowing for complexity and contradictions, the situational analysis thus reveals important potentials for peace in the conflictual field of higher education.

Local Turn in Knowledge Production About Post-Conflict Societies: The Case of the Balkan Peace Index

ABSTRACT The notion that peace can be measured has been heavily criticised in peace and conflict studies. The critique has even produced an alternative approach based on local voices and participatory methods, where peace is understood as a subjective category. Still, alternatives have not been successful in translating contextual knowledge into meaningful policies. By relying on the ‘local turn’ and the Balkan Peace Index, the article tries to answer whether the contextual knowledge of local researchers could be used in producing an index that is policy-relevant yet still grounded in local realities of countries where the measurement is taking place.

The Responsibility for Peace (R4P): Understanding the study of peace from a global justice and development perspective.

This article introduces a new conceptualisation of the relationship between global distributive justice, development, and the study of peace, which we label the Responsibility for Peace (R4P). In doing so, the article examines the notion of positive peace within peace studies, its relation to arguments within global distributive justice, and to what degree this important relationship is recognised in the primary international framework to prevent and protect populations from mass atrocity crimes, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). The article argues that despite growing recognition about the links between peace and development within both R2P and global justice discussions, it remains insufficient in terms of positive peace, thus requiring a new heuristic. In response, we argue that global justice demands refocused moral commitments to jus ante bellum (establishing global justice before war) and that this necessitates greater focus on the study of positive peace mechanisms, the identification and reform of structural injustices (against structural violence), and a retooled emphasis on human-centred development that can transcend existing legacies. In other words, we need to better focus on causes and not symptoms. It is this triangulation that we label the Responsibility for Peace (R4P), which should operate both prior to, and independently of, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).

A Global Campus Beyond the Cold War. Peace and Disarmament Among Spanish Academics during the Debate on Joining and Remaining in NATO (1981-1986)

Historiography has recently shown a special interest in assessing the cultural impact of the social engagement of academics during the Cold War through their advocacy of disarmament or human rights. This academic social activism became part of a complex “transnational civil society,” which was to influence international relations. In light of these considerations, this article aims to delve into the distinctive characteristics of the “nuclear culture” and “science diplomacy” of the Spanish academic world between 1981 and 1986. Spain’s experience of the final stage of the Cold War was somewhat unusual. The resurgence of nuclear tension between the two superpowers was mediated by the domestic political transition from a military dictatorship to a parliamentary democracy, but also by the democratisation of foreign policy and the accession of Spain to NATO. To understand how this took place and with what effects, this article will focus on three main points. Firstly, it will set out an analysis of the impact of historian E.P. Thompson’s critical thinking on the Cold War and the European Campaign for Disarmament among Spanish academics. Secondly, it will examine how certain academics, who played an active part in the debate either for or against joining and remaining in NATO, shaped the nuclear culture of the time through the daily press. Finally, it will argue the involvement, or lack thereof, of Spain’s scientific sector in transnational networks for peace and disarmament and how, through civil society itself, the foundations were laid for the first centres aimed at the dissemination and study of peace.

Post-conservative: A proposal for theological polarisation in Indonesia

Indonesia, as a country with rich diversity, faces a significant challenge in the form of polarisation, which occurs not only in the political sphere but also in religion and belief. In the context of Christian theological education in Indonesia, polarisation also occurs between conservative and liberal views. Conservatives adhere to literal interpretations and established doctrines, while liberals are more flexible and open to contextual interpretations. To address this polarisation, an approach that transcends both extremes is needed. This article proposes post-conservative thought as a conceptual solution for theological education in Indonesia. Postconservatism positions itself in the middle between conservative and liberal, recognising the importance of fundamental principles of faith while also being open to change and dialogue. This article employs a literature review method to analyse and develop a theoretical framework supporting the application of post-conservatism in Christian theological education in Indonesia. The analysis shows that postconservative theological education needs to be transformative, constructive-creative and liberating to break down polarisation and create inclusive, relevant and impactful education for society.Contribution: This study helps in integrating postconservative theology within theological education, fostering a more nuanced and transformative approach to interpreting Scriptures and addressing ethical and social issues. Interdisciplinary implications involve collaboration with social sciences, education, peace studies and health sciences to develop comprehensive strategies for community engagement, conflict resolution and holistic well-being.

Prevalence and factors associated with anxiety disorder in undergraduate students of Peshawar, kpk, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

Background: Anxiety is a widespread mental health concern that impacts a significant portion of the general population. Functional impairment and negative effects on quality of life are associated with it. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of anxiety among undergraduate students in Peshawar and determine the factors associated with it. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was employed and 400 undergraduate students were included in the study from Peshawar, Pakistan. Data was gathered from various institutions located in Peshawar including The University of Peshawar (UOP), the Department of gender studies, the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, and the Department of pharmacy from The University of Peshawar (UOP), Kabir Medical College, Sardar Begum Dental College (SBDC), Jinnah College for Women (GCW). The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) was employed to analyze the prevalence of anxiety among students. SPSS version 26 was employed to analyze the data. Chi-square was used to find the association between different factors and anxiety. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.04±2.26 years. A total of 138 participants (34.5%) were male, while 262 participants (65.5%) were female. The overall prevalence of anxiety among undergraduate students of Peshawar came out to be 50.5%. Anxiety was strongly linked to dissatisfaction with family relationships (p-value = 0.00), dissatisfaction with career goals (p-value = 0.03), and the use of illicit drugs (p-value = 0.02). Additionally, physical discomfort (p-value = 0.00), low self-confidence (p-value = 0.00), and experiencing mental trauma in the past year (p-value = 0.00) were significantly associated with increased anxiety. Furthermore, anxiety was related to experiencing physical trauma (p-value = 0.04) and struggling with comfortable sleep (p-value = 0.00). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that anxiety is prevalent among undergraduate students in Peshawar. Developing targeted interventions to alleviate anxiety in this population may be facilitated by addressing these factors.

The micro-dynamics of peace and conflict

The study of micro-dynamics has grown over the last two decades, emerging now as a mainstay in research on peace and conflict. The focus on micro-dynamics, and other micro-level approaches, challenges the primacy of state-centric research. Yet despite the growing literature around the micro-dynamics of conflict and peacebuilding, the term remains opaque. Its use has evolved beyond a sweeping indicator for ‘subnational’, yet the field of study has seen limited development of the definitional parameters of the term and why the term retains utility. In this article we explore the deployment of the concept in distinct literatures, provide a working definition, and assess its application to the study of peace and conflict. We argue that micro-dynamics are simultaneously a unit of analysis, a social phenomenon and a sense-making tool for understanding human relations in the broader societal ecosystem. We contend that a micro-dynamics approach contributes to peace and conflict studies, offering insight into how individuals get on with their lives in conflict-affected areas. By providing multilayered insights of complex scenarios based upon thick, empirically led inductive analysis, the micro-dynamics lens generates a granular understanding of (i) how individuals and groups live and perceive boundaries and (ii) the shifting and malleable nature of inter- and intragroup relations in conflict-affected societies. A micro-dynamics lens, moreover, evidences (iii) the interconnected nature of the micro- and other scalar levels of analysis, elucidating understanding of what we characterize as the peace and conflict ecosystem.

Temporalities in spatial narratives about war ruins in Mostar

The spatial turn in peace and conflict studies and the geographies of peace research agendas have underscored the importance of space in (post-)conflict societies. These fields, despite recognising that space and time are inseparable dimensions, often pay more attention to the former compared to the latter. To address this gap, this article explains how space relates to temporality, a concept that delves into the lived experiences of time. More specifically, I analyse how understandings of the past, present, and future shape spatial narratives about war ruins in Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), where buildings targeted during the 1990s wars remain unreconstructed. Drawing on spatial narratives gathered through walks and elite interviews, I show that temporality is a crucial element of space because lived experiences of time structure individuals' perspectives on war ruins in Mostar. Four temporalities were woven into participants’ narratives: (1) narratives shaped by trauma temporalities where war ruins remind people of wartime violence and collapse past and present; (2) narratives driven by temporalities of nostalgia and opportunities that invite reflections about the future of Mostar; (3) narratives building on a temporality of commodification that sees ruins as marketable attractions for tourists; and (4) narratives framing ruins as barriers to synchronising Mostar to a temporality of modernity, characterised by notions of progress and economic development. Through these findings, I demonstrate that temporalities are a key factor in how individuals perceive space and highlight the importance of temporalities in explaining heterogeneous attitudes toward space in areas affected by violence.

Empowering Indigenous Communities: The Pursuit of Quality Education and Peaceful Societies

Educational Institutions in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) fervently advocate for Indigenous Peoples (IP) and Peace Studies Education in higher learning, aligning with the CHED Regional Memorandum No. 56 of 2023. The University of Baguio and other Higher Educational institutions actively integrate IP and Peace Studies into their academic programs. This paper addresses two objectives: explaining cultural misappropriation and introducing the Cordillera Heritage Project to address this issue. This study utilizes a qualitative-descriptive research method by participating in the different programs under Project Cordillera heritage. Project HERITAGE (Higher Education Regional Integration and Teaching of Appropriate, Genuine, and Exhaustive Studies on Indigenous Peoples) is a collaboration between the University of Baguio, CHED CAR, and regional Higher Education Institutions. It introduces Cordillera Heritage as a foundational course, Cordillera Heritage 101: ‘History and Socio-cultural Heritage’, preserving Cordilleran identity through knowledge, systems, practices, settlements and institutions. The Cordillera Heritage stands as a living legacy, relevant in contemporary society and vital to the region’s history. It culminates in the Cordillera Heritage Workbook, which enhances educational materials and includes faculty immersion and training services. The University of Baguio’s proactive approach earned commendation from the Commission on Higher Education for being the first to offer Cordillera Heritage 101 across all programs. The institution’s commitment reflects in successfully implementing the first regional HERITAGE Faculty Immersion Training Service, showcasing its dedication. The Cordillera Heritage Project responds to regional educational needs by integrating subjects that respect and promote Cordilleran knowledge, values, and culture. Aligned with the aspirations for autonomy and self-determination in Cordillera communities, this course is a significant step toward preserving and promoting the region’s heritage within the educational landscape.

Interview: Reflections on Three Decades of Islamic Nonviolence

Abstract This article comprises a discussion with Prof. Mohammed Abu-Nimer, a trailblazer in the field of Peace Studies focusing on Islam and Muslim communities. It explores Prof. Abu-Nimer's reflections on the development of this field over the past three decades. It focuses in particular on methodological, institutional, and inter-cultural challenges and developments during that time. Like Prof. Abu-Nimer's long career, it is international in scope and explores convergences and divergences in the experiences and discourses surrounding Muslim-led nonviolent resistance, peacemaking and peacebuilding initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. It also includes discussion of the role played by cultural difference and hybridity in translating the distinct peace and nonviolence repertoires of Western and non-Western cultural and political contexts.

North-South research collaboration during complex global emergencies: Qualitative knowledge production and sharing during COVID-19

Large multinational teams of academics and activist-practitioners that span the Global North-South divide have become common in qualitative research because of the reliance of field of peace and conflict studies on “local” knowledge and expertise. Complex global emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, present the opportunity to (re)shape and (re)consider these endeavors in key some ways. This article focuses on the involvement of South-based activist-practitioners in three large North-South collaborations, one pre-pandemic (Beyond Words: Implementing Latin American Truth Commission Recommendations), one ongoing when the pandemic began (Gender, Justice, and Security Hub), and one launched during the pandemic (Truth Commissions and Sexual Violence: African and Latin American Experiences). Drawing on center-periphery framework, we adopt an autoethnographic approach, to reflect on how the pandemic has not only reinforced existing structural and institutional asymmetries through reduced funding, professional uncertainty, and personal loss and insecurity but also added some new ethical concerns. This reality has tested both our capacity and commitment to work toward the decolonization of knowledge in the field. In making this argument, we seek to contribute to the discussion on research ethics and the politics of knowledge production and sharing in qualitative peace and conflict research.

Peace polysemy in business and peace agendas

This article presents an empirical study that delves into the complex dynamics of business–society relationships in fragile postconflict contexts. It addresses a crucial question: How does the interpretation of peace shape business and peace agendas? Our qualitative case study of Colombia, involving 41 stakeholder interviews and document analysis, focuses on the department of Antioquia. This region is undergoing a transformative process through the Development Programs with a Territorial Approach, known as PDET. These instruments aim to stabilize and transform conflict-affected regions, thereby contributing to peacebuilding in the country. Our findings reveal three distinct types of business and peace agendas, each rooted in different interpretations of peace: those that are direct, indirect, or independent from the government peace agendas. We propose an approach for tracing peace polysemy and establishing a minimal convergence between peace agendas, offering practical implications for decision-makers. We contribute to business and peace studies and identify promising avenues for future research.

The Use of Machine Learning Methods in Political Science: An In-Depth Literature Review

In the past decade, applying machine learning methods in political science has grown in popularity. The increase in data volume and sources motivated researchers to turn to these data-driven methods as an alternative to classical statistics. Several review papers have proposed theoretical typologies for applying machine learning in social sciences. We present an overview of how and why machine learning methods are actually implemented in the field of political science. The aim of this study is to conduct an empirical analysis of the political science literature that uses machine learning as a research method. We applied the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework for systematic review studies to systematically select 339 articles (1990–2022) from Web of Science and Scopus, evaluated their relevance based on a set of inclusion criteria, and created a database with the key characteristics. Overall, we observed that political scientists have embraced machine learning as empirical method based on the increased use in the past 10 years. We found that the use of machine learning is the most prevalent in political communication and conflict and peace studies, and that topic modeling, support vector machine, and random forest are the most used methods. Our results indicate that reporting on optimizing machine learning models through hyperparameter tuning could be more transparent, and researchers should conduct their own benchmarking when choosing the most suitable model.

Counteracting Everyday Violence at the Border: A View from Peacebuilding and Border Art

This article presents an overview of the potential for integrating specific peacebuilding strategies with the practice of border art as a tool for addressing various forms of violence in border regions. The specific peacebuilding strategies considered are nonviolent intervention, reduction of direct violence, transformation of relationships, and building capacity. It is proposed that the combination of these strategies with border art provides avenues for counteracting specific forms of violence. Artistic expressions denounce negative social conditions and convey a sense of peace, portraying questions of social justice. Border art can re-politicize border spaces by strategically positioning shared values such as peaceful coexistence and hope. The proposed combination of peacebuilding strategies and border art can be a means of counteracting the normalization of violence and social exclusion in social contexts that are not associated with armed conflict but are permanently affected by everyday violence. This work also aims to facilitate a constructive dialogue between the disciplines of peace studies, critical border studies, and border art.

Moving Beyond "Recovery": Exposing and Disrupting the Eating Dis/Order Industrial Complex

In this article, we begin by discussing the historical ideologies and practices that have evolved into the prevailing understandings of ‘eating disorders’ (EDs) and their association with mental illness, psychiatric treatment, and recovery. We argue that psychiatry’s authoritarian control over so-called EDs and the circular reasoning that justifies its questionable efficacy present a paradoxical trap for those labelled as ED. While scholarly critiques of the psychiatric ED monopoly have expanded clinical framings of ED recovery, it is the psychiatric survivor movement that has exposed psychiatry itself as something to recover from. In line with this movement, and moving with Mad Studies, we call for a more radical scholarship that resists prevalent notions of ‘recovery’ and expresses Mad outrage in response to the systemic violence that is perpetuated by psychiatry’s totalitarian control of treatment and recovery. Toward this end, we began the process of curating radical imaginations for a transdisciplinary project to include alternative analyses of ED-related phenomena that expose what we have come to understand as the eating dis/order industrial complex. We conclude by pointing to alternative analyses that we suggest can inform critical eating dis/order studies, drawing from: economics, communication and technology studies, public health, radical dietetics, practitioners, activists, artists, survivors, peace studies, and multi-species studies.

Making Space for Peace in Contexts of ‘Non-war’ Violence: Challenging War-Peace Binaries Through Feminist, Spatio-Temporal, and Decolonial Approaches

ABSTRACT Peace is often represented as a matter of time, as a political state that happens after war. This special issue contests this linear and binary view by giving an account of being and thinking between the boundaries of peace and war. It challenges mainstream ideas, political discourses, and collective imaginaries about the location of violence, peace, and peacebuilding. It does so by providing empirical and theoretical arguments as to why Peace and Conflict Studies and Geographies of Peace should widen their scope of empirical sites to include contexts of non-war violence, such as military urbanism, counterterrorism, police violence, migration, environmental struggles, and continued everyday violence and peacebuilding in different locations such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Lebanon, and Northern Ireland. To do so, the special issue presents four theoretical lines of inquiry: 1) spatiality; 2) temporality; 3) feminist phenomenology and; 4) decolonial thought. Collectively, the articles make a strong case, epistemologically, theoretically, and methodologically, about peace as a complex embodied experience that should be analysed in time and space. The special issue concludes by calling for ‘making space for peace’ through in-betweenness, care, and non-violent resistance.