Funded bythe European Commission’s
Sixth Framework Programme
1. Programme rationale2. Purpose3. Consortium4. Goals5. Progress so far6. Next steps
Most conflict research, and programmes of conflict resolution, prevention and mediation are driven by regional, national and international perspectives
At a fundamental level, conflict originates from people’s behaviour and how they interact with society and their environment
1. Rationale
Unanswered questions
Who are these people?
What do they do?
Why do they get affected by violence? In what way?
Are they part of the conflict? What led them into it?
2. Main Purpose Advance the field of conflict analysis through micro level,
multidisciplinary approach
understanding individual and group interactions leading to and resulting from violent mass conflicts (full conflict cycle)
Better informed domestic, regional and international conflict policy, which places individuals and groups at the centre of interventions
MICROCONA Micro Level Analysis of Violent Conflict
EC-funded; Integrated Project; Project Coordinator: IDS
Implemented over 5 years (2007-2011)
30 research projects; 60 named researchers; 14 disciplines; data from 40 countries
3. The ConsortiumRest of the WorldCanada: University of British Columbia
South Africa: University of Cape Town
India: Institute for Human Development
Uganda: Makerere University
Kyrgyzstan: Centre for Economic and Social Research
United States: Tufts UniversityYale University
Colombia: Universidad de los Andes
EuropeBelgium: Centre for European Policy StudiesUniversité Catholique du LouvainGhent UniversityFree University of Brussels (VUB)
Norway: Fafo Institute for Applied International Studies
Bulgaria: International Collaboration Institute Affiliated to the German Public Universities Association – Sofia Branch
Portugal: University of Lisbon
France: University of Rouen
Romania: Institute of Agricultural Economics
Germany: German Institute for Economic ResearchUnited Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security
Spain: University of Alicante
Italy: Institute of International Affairs
UK: Institute of Development StudiesPoverty Research Unit, SussexUniversity of Oxford
The Netherlands: Institute of Social Studies
4. Goals…
A new conceptual framework
What does violent mass conflict mean at the micro level?
Who are the actors involved in violent mass conflicts?
Why do violent mass conflicts take place?
How do violent mass conflicts impact on individuals, their families and their social groups?
How can we build conceptual linkages between micro level perspectives on violent mass conflicts and policy-making processes?
MICROCON’s research agenda…
WHO
Group formation and mobilisationConflict and ethnic religious tensionGender aspects of conflictMigration, displacement and refugees
WHY – HOWRisk, security and coping mechanismsPoverty, inequality and social exclusionViolent conflict and health outcomesGovernance and institutions
MICRO POLICYConflict in the European NeighbourhoodEvaluation of Conflict Interventions
Datasets
Training and mobility
Training of new doctoral students
Funding for workshop participation and training activities
Summer schools
Building partnerships beyond EU
Dissemination and communication
Target audiences: Policy and research community, local representatives and civil society organisations, wider public
Outputs: Research and policy discussion paper series, policy briefings, newsletter, workshops, website
5. Progress
3 workshops: Discussion and refining of conceptual framework Research methods Ethics Gender Action Plan Policy Work Packages launched at third workshop
Fieldwork 3 teams have returned from the field. 6 are
currently undertaking fieldwork Publications
8 Research Working Papers published 1 Policy Working Paper published 4 Policy Briefings published
Progress: www.microconflict.eu
6. Next Steps Field research has been ongoing since August
2007 – finishing around mid-2009
Frequency of publications is increasing and will peak in 2009/10
Results will be compiled in two books – one on academic results, one focussing on policy relevant outputs
Final conference – Brussels 2011
www.microconflict.eu