Our Library
Explore our publications, from research papers and series to educational materials, covering all aspects of conflict transformation and peace promotion.
Basics of Mediation: Concepts and DefinitionsFact Sheet Series: Peace Mediation and Mediation Support
This fact sheet is part of a fact sheet series on peace mediation that provides a structured overview of approaches, stakeholders, challenges and possibilities for action in the field of peace mediation.
- Year2017
- Author(s)German Federal Foreign Office, Initiative Mediation Support Deutschland (IMSD)
National Dialogue HandbookA Guide for Practitioners
Grounded in a series of contemporary case studies, this Handbook aims to contribute to the nascent debate about National Dialogue, bringing together insights and expertise from diverse regions. In doing so, it seeks to present systematic reflections and offer practical advice. The Handbook thus supports conflict stake-holders and practitioners (both local and international) to grapple with the challenges they face and to pursue the most appropriate design for their particular context. Moving beyond simplistic approaches, the Handbook also seeks to provide an overview of National Dialogue processes, drawing from the expertise and practices of scholars and practitioners.
- Year2017
US and German Civilian-led Efforts in Conflict and Fragile Contexts: Addressing Internal Challenges to Improve ImpactPolicy Brief No. 7
This brief takes a close look at the government responses of Germany and the United States to conflict and crises around the globe and examines some of the internal challenges that inhibit both countries’ ability to implement conflict mitigation and prevention programs and ultimately their ability to deliver effective foreign assistance abroad. This brief makes recommendations in light of four core obstacles that must be addressed if both nations want to improve their foreign assistance delivery and help to stabilize and transform conflict in fragile contexts.
- Year2017
- Author(s)Megan German
Tunisia’s 2013 National Dialogue: Political Crisis ManagementNational Dialogue Handbook: Case Studies
This publication is one of seven case studies; others include Guatemala, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nepal, and Sudan. The case studies provide recommendations for on-going processes in the specific country and inform the Handbook’s findings. The overall aim of the project is to improve National Dialogues and enhance the capacities and contributions of conflict parties, local stakeholders and external actors towards their successful implementation.
- Year2017
- Author(s)Rikke Hostrup Haugbølle, Amine Ghali, Hèla Yousfi, Mohamed Limam, Nina Grønlykke Mollerup
Dealing with the Past: Supporting people-centred “working-through” the legacies of violencePolicy Brief No. 6
This policy brief hones in on the specific ways in which a people-centred approach to dealing with the past can be built from the ground up, complementing the previous Berghof Policy Brief no. 5. It works through the commonalities and differences between transitional justice, reconciliation and dealing with the past; and puts emphasis on the dual roles of the victims and their potential in either escalating or de-escalating violent approaches to conflict.
- Year2017
- Author(s)Beatrix Austin
Hitting the target but missing the point?Assessing donor support for inclusive and legitimate politics in fragile societies
The International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding’s ‘New Deal for engagement in Fragile States’ (“New Deal”) of late 2011 promised an end to ‘business as usual’ with regard to development efforts in fragile environments. This report takes stock of the question of how bilateral and multilateral donors have conceptualized and implemented their commitment to promote ‘legitimate and inclusive political settlements and conflict resolution’ (PSG1). On the basis of empirical evidence acquired through case studies in Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan and Timor-Leste, the report finds that, at best, donors work with an incomplete and inadequate understanding of the typically fragmented and highly contested politics of fragile societies beyond the formal representatives of their governments and administrations.
- Year2017
- Author(s)Erwin van Veen, Véronique Dudouet
Paving the Way for the Effective and Inclusive Implementation of Peace AccordsA Strategic Framework
This strategic framework was developed during the 8th Meeting on Negotiations entitled The Implementation of Accords and the Role of International Third Parties held in October 2016, in Berlin. It provides an overview of some of the most frequent challenges Resistance and Liberation Movements (RLMs) are facing with regard to the implementation phase of peace agreements and ways to overcome them. This overview aims at giving our readers the possibility to reflect and improve their strategies in the nexus of negotiation and implementation.
- Year2017
- Author(s)Nico Schernbeck, Luxshi Vimalarajah
Documentation Conference "Strengthening a culture of dialogue in Jordan"
The documentation of the conference gives an insight into the different panel speeches, the vivid discussions as well as the thorough exchange of experiences and expertise between multipliers, including several university presidents and professors, as well as Jordanian and German experts with political, social or educational backgrounds. This exchange was particularly enabled through the interactive method "World Café".
- Year2016
Organisations under pressure but powering on: The psychosocial approach within integrated management of threatA model for human rights organisations and donor organisations
This guide offers a model and elaborates its recommendations for threatened human rights organisations and donor organisations on dealing with threat in an integrated manner. It specifically focuses on incorporating a psychosocial approach into the organisations’ routines, spaces and structures as a crucial element of integrated threat management. Drawing together lessons and insights from a joint learning process within the framework of the project “MAPA”, it emphasises how HRO and donors can work together towards achieving this goal. The guide is meant to help initiate a change process and stimulate further engagement with the topic, thereby seeking to contribute to maintaining human rights organisations’ scope for action in violent contexts. Understood as complementary to existing literature, this interactive guide provides links to other publications on the topic.
- Year2016
- Author(s)Antonia Montanus, Nele Rathke, Barbara Unger
Organizaciones amenazadas, pero fuertes - Un enfoque psicosocial en el manejo integral de amenazasUn modelo para organizaciones de DDHH y organizaciones donantes
Este guía brinda un modelo y detalla recomendaciones para organizaciones de DDHH amenazadas y organizaciones donantes sobre cómo integrar un enfoque psicosocial en las rutinas, espacios y estructuras de sus organizaciones como elemento clave para un manejo intregal de amenazas. Basado en lecciones de un proceso de aprendizaje conjunto dentro del marco del proyecto MAPA hace hincapié en cómo organizaciones DDHH y donantes pueden conjuntamente trabajar hacía esa meta. El guía apoya a iniciar un proceso de cambio y estimula tratar el tema, contribuyendo así a mantener el espacio de actuación para organizaciones de DDHH en contextos de violencia. Entendido como complementario a recursos existentes, la versión interactiva brinda enlaces a otras publicaciones pertinentes.
- Year2016
- Author(s)Antonia Montanus, Nele Rathke, Barbara Unger