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 case study explores the populist instrumentalisation of history in Lithuania since 2014, the year Russia invaded Ukraine. The author documents how far-right and populist actors in Lithuania increasingly turn to the experience of the Second World War and its aftermath to propagate simplistic narratives that rely on antisemitic tropes, whitewash historical crimes, and turn victims into villains and perpetrators into victims, with the ostensible aim of strengthening patriotic sentiment.
In light of the recent rise of the Chilean far right, this case study explores far-right revisionist discourses on the military dictatorship. To do so, the authors analyse both far-right discourses expressed on X (formerly Twitter) as well as discourses and practices expressed in relation to the desecration of human rights memorials. The paper reveals how transitional justice initiatives and even the broader human rights framework are coming under increasing scrutiny in Chile.
This case study examines the evolution of the South Korean New Right over the past two decades in its revisionist assaults on mainstream historiography and the country’s consolidating transitional justice paradigm. Analysing the most salient areas of contention, the author finds that far-right memory politics in South Korea represents a calculated effort to distort national memory for political ends, posing serious risks to the country’s democratic integrity.
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 the concepts of restorative nostalgia and apocalyptic anticipation to analyse how the opposition to policies aimed at redressing past inequalities related to colonialism and apartheid often relies on racial stereotypes, fear, and, at times, hatred.
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
