States of Conflict: Lessons in conflict prevention and peacebuilding

Article

This briefing paper draws out some of the lessons learned about conflict prevention and peacebuilding through the work of IPPR's Commission on National Security in the 21st Century.

The report draws heavily on four published case study reports on conflict prevention and peacebuilding in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia, as well as the findings presented in the Commission's interim and final reports.

It seeks to identify those lessons that will be most relevant to governments and international organisations, and argues that in spite of the difficulties there is still a compelling case for policymakers investing more political and financial capital in both conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Related items

  1. Entrance sign at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office in Westminster

    Reset: Building modern partnerships with the countries of the global south

    The UK's relationships with many countries of the ‘global south’ are in a poor state.
  2. Doctor with patient for consultation, medical advice or procedure at clinic

    Taken to heart: Inequalities in heart disease in Scotland

    More than 7.6 million people across the UK live with cardiovascular disease (CVD), around twice as many as live with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer combined. 
  3. A beautiful sunset in the Scottish highlands with renewable energy wind turbines far into the horizon

    Skills passports: An essential part of a fair transition

    This month, government will publish its Clean Energy Workforce Strategy. This plan covers two aims. First, filling the growing demand for skills in clean energy industries is essential to keep on track to reach the government’s clean power…