Profile and Aims
Who we are...
Berghof Conflict Research (BCR) is a think tank operating at the interface between conflict research and peace policy. We investigate and develop innovative and pragmatic approaches to conflict transformation. To achieve this, we:
- analyse the causes, forms and dynamics of violent ethnopolitical conflicts
- combine research excellence with policy advice for a wide range of different actors, including civil society, governments and international organisations
- help conflict stakeholders to identify peaceful ways of addressing their differences
- apply participatory action research methodologies based on close cooperation with our partners
Our flagship publication is the Berghof Handbook for Conflict Transformation. Continuously updated, this world-renowned resource offers an online platform for both academics and practitioners to discuss new ideas and exchange experiences in the field of conflict transformation.
TopResearch
In our view, conflict transformation is a complex process of changing the relationships, interests, discourses and underlying structures that encourage and condition violent political conflict.
To meet these challenges, our research focuses on three inter-related themes:
- basic principles and processes of peacebuilding, reconciliation and dealing with the past in post-conflict societies
- transitions from violence to politics in resistance and liberation movements
- interactions between state and non-state actors in processes of conflict transformation
These three research areas allow us to identify and address the deep-rooted structural causes of conflict. They also permit us to engage in close partnership with a wide range of relevant actors across a spectrum of crucial issues. Successful conflict transformation requires long-term engagement and cooperation on many levels.
Above all, these research themes offer us the insights we need to develop innovative and pragmatic approaches to the peaceful transformation of violent ethnopolitical conflict, working closely with those involved on the ground.
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We know that effective conflict transformation requires a commitment to long-term engagement. We also know that it is essential to enlist support from the key actors in a violent conflict.
To achieve this, Berghof Conflict Research uses the inclusive methodology of participatory action research. This means we involve conflict stakeholders in drawing up research questions and hypotheses. We also feed back the results of our investigations, thus ensuring that they remain a continuous part of the research process.
These cooperative partnerships enable us to gain better understanding of the underlying causes of conflict, along with the motives of those who are involved. We take these factors into account when developing concepts and approaches for conflict transformation.
Our methodology therefore guarantees that the research we produce is meaningful to the needs and interests of our various partners.
TopPartnerships
Berghof Conflict Research actively cooperates with a wide range of like-minded organisations throughout the world. In our view, these partnerships make a significant contribution to the on-going development of our research agenda, ensuring that our work remains highly relevant to the field.
One particularly close collaboration is the partnership with our sister organisation, Berghof Peace Support. BPS promotes the use of systemic conflict transformation to prevent or overcome violent disputes, providing support for civil society and political actors involved in peace processes. With shared office space in Berlin, together we create a dynamic synergy between research and practice that has earned the Berghof name a reputation for excellence in the field of conflict transformation.
Our combined capacity for innovation is demonstrated in the Joint Vision, a strategy paper drawn up by BCR and BPS, in cooperation with the Berghof Foundation for Conflict Studies. The Joint Vision outlines a unique way of systematically linking conflict research with peacebuilding practice. Giving our research a practical test is just as important to us as conceptually refining approaches to conflict transformation.
As reflected in the Berghof Handbook for Conflict Transformation, our network of partners features strongly in our research and publication activities. Partnerships enable us to pool research resources, increasing their practical impact. Some of our partners include: the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), the German Federal Foreign Office’s Advisory Board for Civilian Crisis Prevention and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.
For a full list of our partners, click here.
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