RSSSection II: Analysing Conflict and Assessing Conflict Transformation
The second section reviews tools for analysing and intervening in ethnopolitical conflict, as well as predicting and preventing violent conflicts. Close examination is made of conflict trends and causes, early warning and crisis prevention, and mechanisms for careful process design. A special feature is the dialogue about assessing the impact of conflict interventions.
| Author | Title / Description | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cheyanne Scharbatke-Church 
|
Evaluating Peacebuilding: Not Yet All It Could Be
Assesses the quality of peacebuilding evaluation work being undertaken in a rapidly professionalizing field. The author gives several examples of good and bad practice and suggests that current evaluation practice is failing to foster accountability and learning quite as well as it could. She explores reasons why evaluation may fall short of established quality standards or stray from its explicitly stated purpose, offering recommendations for improvement to researchers, practitioners and donors alike.
|
2011 10 2011 | ||
| Reina C. Neufeldt
|
“Frameworkers” and “Circlers” – Exploring Assumptions in Impact Assessment
Unpacks some of the hidden hypotheses underlying current assessment methodologies. The author argues that two (ideal type) constituencies interact – and sometimes clash – in development and peacebuilding work. She sets out to clarify their contending perspectives and illustrates ways in which both approaches can enrich each other and further the ultimate task of achieving effective impact monitoring and evaluation. (updated and revised for 2011 print edition)
Older version: "Frameworkers" and "Circlers" – Exploring Assumptions in Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (2007) |
2011 10 2011 | ||
| Tara Cooper, Sebastian Merz & Mila Shah
|
A More Violent World? Global Trends in Organised Violence
Presents robust quantitative data challenging the widespread notion that worldwide trends in violent conflict are increasing. This reflects changes in the nature of warfare, but also points to some possible successful outcomes of recent peacebuilding work. The analysis, conducted as part of the Human Security Report Project, extends beyond state-based conflicts to also cover non-state actors involved in conflict and assaults that target civilians.
|
2011 09 2011 | ||
| Dan Smith |
Trends and Causes of Armed Conflict
Gives an overview of current findings on causes of armed conflict, identifying injustice and mobilisation as key concepts. The author shares insights on where to look for signs of potential escalation, where to seek and how to utilise opportunities for preventing violent escalation. (revised for 2004 print edition)
Available translations:Sinhala / සිංහලTamil / தமிழ் Russian / РУССКИЙ Turkish / Türkçe Spanish / Español |
2004 08 2004 | ||
| Alex Austin |
Early Warning and The Field: A Cargo Cult Science?
Introduces early warning activities and identifies different areas of focus, methodologies and mechanisms employed. The author discusses critically whether existing early warning systems can: a) identify the causes of conflict; b) predict the outbreak of conflict; and c) mitigate conflict. (revised for 2004 print edition)
|
2004 07 2004 | ||
| Thania Paffenholz |
Designing Transformation and Intervention Processes
Outlines concepts for designing and assessing intervention strategies, building on personal practice experience. The author addresses ten issues: vision, goals and commitment; analysis of conflicts and actors; strategies and roles; partners and entry points; timing and exit; processes and structures; staffing criteria; coordination and cooperation; sustainability; institutional learning. (revised for 2004 print edition)
|
2004 06 2004 | ||
| Mark Hoffman |
Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment Methodology
Reviews the state of the art in evaluation, focusing on peace and conflict impact assessment (PCIA) methodology from three perspectives: traditional donor evaluations; assessment methodologies in development work; evaluations of conflict resolution and peacebuilding NGOs. (revised for 2004 print edition)
|
2004 05 2004 | ||
| Mary B. Anderson |
Experiences with Impact Assessment: Can We Know What Good We Do?
Considers how international agencies providing humanitarian assistance, development aid and/or support to peace processes can understand what their impacts are. The article builds on a collaborative learning project and identifies two major challenges: 1) selecting criteria or indicators for assessing progress; and 2) determining who or what particular outcomes can be attributed to. (revised for 2004 print edition)
|
2004 04 2004 |
See also…
In response to Mark Hoffman's article, several scholars and practitioners involved in peacebuilding or development cooperation contributed their perspectives and engaged in the Berghof Handbook Dialogue No. 1 on Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment. Among the issues raised are: questions of ownership; difficulties with the level of participation; questions of attribution; identification of generally applicable indicators vs. specificity and contextuality of activities and impact; standard procedures vs. open and flexible approaches.Themes of impact assessment are also debated in our Handbook Dialogue No 4, New Trends in Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment (PCIA).