Explore our publications, from research papers and series to educational materials, covering all aspects of conflict transformation and peace promotion.
At a time when division threatens the fabric of societies, dialogue offers a path forward. The Dialogue for Social Cohesion brief, developed by UNESCO in collaboration with the Berghof Foundation and Search for Common Ground, blends real-world case studies with practical recommendations.
The rise of the far right is a global phenomenon, with anti-democratic parties and authoritarian leaders gaining influence not only in Europe but worldwide. A defining characteristic of far-right politics is a revisionist engagement with the past. By challenging established historiography and remembrance culture, far-right actors promote distorted historical narratives that fuel hate speech, xenophobia, racism, and political polarisation.
This article explores the populist instrumentalisation of history in Lithuania since 2014, the year Russia invaded Ukraine. While pro-European voices reflect on the Second World War and its aftermath to strengthen civic duty, populists and Eurosceptics speak of the same events in simplistic narratives that whitewash historical crimes to strengthen patriotic sentiment.
In light of the recent rise of the Chilean far right, the case study explores far-right narratives and actions. To do so, the authors analyse how these narratives are disseminated on social media and how they impact cultural memory in Chile.
Memory politics is concerned with “who wants whom to remember what”, why, and how. Given South Korea’s particular history and the lingering legacies of its past, it is not surprising that more than three decades after the transition to formal democracy in 1987, memory politics is at the centre of the conflict between the country’s liberals and conservatives. This research report investigates the far right in South Korea misuse sites, objects, and practices of remembrance to further their political goals.
This case study explores mobilisations framed around remembrance in white nationalist movements in post-apartheid South Africa, with a particular focus on the AfriForum. The authors draw on a range of critical theoretical and affect theory literature to analyse the rhetoric presented by white nationalist movements and to address the challenges of transitional justice in a society emerging from the tumultuous and violent histories of colonialism and apartheid.
In the aftermath of conflict, National Dialogue and Transitional Justice can both contribute to reconciliation and prevent the recurrence of violence. But what is the nexus between the two? What are key shared characteristics, goals, and complementarities? In this paper, Sylvia Servaes and David Bloomfield explore the interlinkages between National Dialogues and Transitional Justice. They also discuss open questions on how both processes can be further integrated in practice to enhance their relevance and effectiveness.
Disinformation is a global challenge that undermines trust within societies and, ultimately, peace. This study investigates how peacebuilders can help combat disinformation by using their expertise in conflict analysis, mediation, and dialogue. It also explores the role of technology in spreading disinformation and identifies opportunities for peacebuilders to intervene. The study emphasises the need for them to focus on addressing the root causes of both disinformation and conflict, rather than simply responding to their symptoms. It advocates for incorporating cognitive science into peacebuilding efforts and for adopting a more interdisciplinary approach to tackle these complex issues.
The research report offers a detailed analysis of KURVE Wustrow's unique cooperation with nonviolent social movements and is based on the lessons learned from working with movements in Sudan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Palestine and Israel with the aim of supporting their contributions to peace and justice.
Despite the increasingly evident intersection of climate and conflict risks, the two communities continue to operate in separate spheres, each relying on distinct approaches and taxonomies that have evolved over decades. However, recent efforts promote better alignment of climate action and peacebuilding strategies to maximize their impact and advance shared ambitions of creating resilient, inclusive, and prosperous societies. This paper seeks to provide an overview of the evolving climate, peace and conflict field, exploring key principles essential for peacebuilding and mediation support actors and highlighting successful initiatives that exemplify these principles in action.
Year2024
Author(s)Tom Breese, Thomas Ritzer, Andrew Gilmour
