Our Library
Explore our publications, from research papers and series to educational materials, covering all aspects of conflict transformation and peace promotion.
The Role of Development Aid in Conflict Transformation: Facilitating Empowerment Processes and Community BuildingHandbook Article
Highlights the role of development assistance for the structural aspects of peacebuilding. Exploring the nexus between participation, empowerment and conflict transformation, the authors critically discuss the potential of common participatory approaches at the community level and their impact for conflict transformation on the local level. (revised for 2004 print edition).
- Year2004
- Author(s)Christine Bigdon, Benedikt Korf
The News Media and the Transformation of Ethnopolitical ConflictsHandbook Article
Presents proposals for reporting on ethnopolitical conflicts in a manner that fosters peace. The author offers a basic model to explain the impact of media, as well as discussing NGO activities and a proposal for reform efforts on the European level. (revised for 2004 print edition)
- Year2004
- Author(s)Dusan Reljic
Recovering from Violent Conflict: Regeneration and (Re-)Integration as Elements of PeacebuildingHandbook Article
- Year2004
- Author(s)Martina Fischer
Dealing with the Consequences of Organised Violence in Trauma WorkHandbook Article
- Year2004
- Author(s)David Becker
Supporting Justice, Co-Existence and Reconciliation after Armed Conflict: Strategies for Dealing with the PastHandbook Article
- Year2004
- Author(s)Gunnar Theissen
Towards Conflict Transformation and a Just PeaceHandbook Article
Deals with the challenges of linking theory, research and practice, and offers strategies for doing so in all relevant areas of social change. The author argues that the structural sources of conflict have been relatively neglected in conflict analysis and in the design of intervention processes. Until this situation is reversed, it will be difficult to generate stable, peaceful and just relationships. (revised for 2004 print edition)
- Year2004
- Author(s)Kevin Clements
Berghof Handbook GlossaryHandbook Article
Writers in the field of conflict studies often use key terms in loose and contradictory ways, reflecting the reality that concepts have not been clearly defined. To encourage coherent usage of these terms the following definitions have been adopted for the purposes of the Berghof Handbook for Conflict Transformation. Nevertheless individual authors on occasion have used some terms in a specific way in relation to the particular argument in their chapter. In these circumstances the special use of the term is clearly explained and otherwise the following definitions are general usage in the Handbook.
- Year2004
Security Sector Reform: Potentials and Challenges for Conflict TransformationHandbook Dialogue Series No. 2 - complete
Violent crises and internal wars are often consequences of the failure of states to provide stability and security for their citizens. International organisations and development agencies, in order to overcome cultures of violence and to support nation-building processes, have focused on security sector reform as an integral part of third-party intervention in recent years. This issue of the Berghof Handbook Dialogue Series examines the arguments for engagement with the security sector and provides an analysis of the dilemmas that arise, along with suggestions for how they might be overcome.
- Year2004
Consilience of Knowledge for Sustained Positive Peace: A response to the Articles by Cordula Reimann and Hugh MiallHandbook Article Response
The articles by Hugh Miall and Cordula Reimann in Berghof Handbook for Conflict Transformation (2001) attempt to map out a distinct theory of conflict transformation, but in the process they present the field of conflict resolution as a problem-solving theory (herein after, referred individually as ‘Article 1’ and ‘Article 2’, and collectively as ‘the Articles’). Conflict resolution is represented in the Articles by singularity of strategy, target group and as envisaging an end point to conflicts, when parties arrive at a ‘positive sum outcome’ (Miall, 2001:3; Reimann, 2001:13). This leads to a claim that conflict resolution is a relatively simplistic approach to contemporary conflicts (Miall, 2001:1), hence the Articles consider and develop conflict transformation as a more realistic approach to protracted violent conflict situations
- Year2003
- Author(s)Githathevi Kanisin
Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment: Critical Views on Theory and PracticeHandbook Dialogue Series No. 1 - complete
Over the last ten years, interest in conflict prevention and peacebuilding activities has increased significantly. As a result of this interest, there is a high demand for "model" projects, examples of good practice and "lessons learned" which can be transferred to other projects and regions. Supply, though, does not match this demand. There are still no quick and easy answers to the question of how best to assess, monitor and evaluate peace practices. On the contrary, experience shows that assessing and measuring the impact and outcomes of peacebuilding activities is actually a very complicated task. The articles and comments in this first issue of the Berghof Handbook Dialogue Series reflect the state of the art in peace and conflict impact assessment (PCIA) from a variety of angles.
- Year2003