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