Methodologies in Peace Research

A conference exploring methodological, empirical
and ethical aspects of research into peace, conflict and division.

Wednesday – Friday 21-23 March 2007, Centre for Peace Studies, University of Tromso, Norway in cooperation with Tampere Peace Research Institute (TAPRI), Finland.

This conference addresses the critical and timely issues of research methodologies in peace and conflict studies, including empirical and ethical aspects of research into peace, conflict and division, widely defined.

Despite the substantial body of literature about research methods and the high level of interest and activity in peace research, little attention has been explicitly devoted to research methodologies in peace research. There are few easily accessible or available academic works, journal articles or textbooks which deal specifically with the methodological, empirical, safety and ethical challenges of carrying out research in areas of tension and stress or into post conflict and divided societies. Furthermore, contemporary international debates are increasingly focussing on the perceived and consequential threats to peace posed by terrorism, extremism and immigration in stable societies. State/society relations and socio-economic/spatial divisions in post-conflict and more stable societies are also becoming a prevalent focus in peace research. These issues and debates contribute to widening the definition and remit of traditional notions of peace research and overcome previous definitional challenges to broaden the remit of topics that have a positive contribution to make to peace studies research and academic debate.

This conference aims to be inclusive and wide ranging. Contributions are sought from a wide range of disciplines and is likely to be of interest not only to those already located in a peace studies environment but also to, for example, historians, criminologists, urban scholars, legal scholars, sociologists, political scientists, psychologists, qualitative and quantitative researchers, policy makers and experienced and novice researchers.

First Call for Papers

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