Peace & Conflict Research Projects

People are at the heart of everything we do. Our projects engage, workshops, consultancy, conferences, mediation, podcasts, evaluations, training, photography and documentary film, we engage in large scale research analysis for journals, policy, and monographs.

Monograph: Intervention Israel-Palestine

This research examines the interaction and causal connections of four interventions, (Mediation, Security, Protest, and Peace Education) and their impact on human needs in the Israel-Palestine conflict. The case interventions examined are, the Oslo Peace Process - Israel's Security Barrier, (Palestinian Wall Protests) - Joint Israeli-Palestinian Peace Education initiatives and finally asymmetric war and terrorism in Gaza. The interventions are analysed for their impact on human needs and the ability of these interventions to generate further conflict or peace in the region. Book Forthcoming 2024/25.

Just War & Post Conflict Trauma

Rumination on past events experienced in a post-conflict phase, has led many service personnel, and those in conflict affected societies, to fall, and stumble, as they readjust their lives, in the post conflict phase. Today, the impact of war, still haunts many who live in a silent cycle of rumination, of those events. In this research, we seek to uncover trauma narrative, and cost of war, and the impact of this on service and non-service personnel. The research explores the notion of a Just War Tradition, and whether the traumatic cost was just.

Workshop: Humanitarian Safeguarding in Conflict Response

The Edinburgh Peace Institute is bringing together experts on safeguarding responses in conflict contexts. Initially, a workshop will be developed to debate the issues around safeguarding the vulnerable at times of conflict/crises, and how civilians can be protected as an initial response, balancing human needs and human security needs. From the workshop findings, research themes will be developed to examine in more depth current problems, issues and themes in safeguarding across the conflict complex. Policy will be developed to enhance ongoing humanitarian and protection initiatives for actors functioning with this space.

Journal Article & Policy Recommendations: Reconciling Jerusalem

This research examines the potential for a reconciled Jerusalem between faiths, post-Oslo Peace Process, while discussing the wider considerations of religious belief. Dr Thomson has engaged in 10 years of field work in the region, has studied a Degree in Theology Honours, MRes Politics/IR, and a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies, (Israel-Palestine). He has engaged in Christian Ministry inquiry, and attended Synagogue for 18 months to learn Hebrew and the Judaic religion, he continues to study Islamic theology, to inform the process of this research engagement.

Journal Article & Policy: Mass Violence & Genocide Prevention

This historical, theoretical, and empirical engagement, imposes a philosophical ethic, to interrogate the human structural conditions that provoke genocide. The research develops an understanding of the roots of 'Genocide & Mass Violence'. In so doing, the work, provides concrete evidence of the embers of the 'Genocide Imagination', how it is transmitted, witnessed, and therefore prevented.

Policy Paper: EU-Abkhazia Relations

This policy research builds upon previous analysis in 2010-12, to examine the EU-Abkhazia relationship. The policy research explores this relationship while examining the 'dependency-development-peace' nexus. The policy outputs will determine the human needs impact on EU-Abkhaz relations, while providing policy relevant solutions from the results.

Field Research & Peacemaking: Violence Against Christians

This policy research examines the current upsurge in violence against Christian communities in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The research seeks to examine how the change in violent rhetoric and action, has impacted their wellbeing, daily routines, and status in the region. The findings will assist in developing a wider policy programme in violence reduction and reconciliation, and to support solutions that foster balanced human security in the region across faiths.

Journal Article: Nordic Resistance Movement

Who, what and where is the NRM? What is its teleology? The Edinburgh Peace institute, will be engaging in discussions to hear the voice of the NRM, beyond the liberal paradigm, to understand its aims, practices, and policy objectives, and to listen to the concerns NRM has in Scandinavian countries. Unless we listen and learn from all political groups, we will only fail to understand their true meaning and teleos, and potential for peace.

Advisory Policy: Safeguarding Reporting in Scotland

We care about safeguarding children, families and teachers in schools. This advisory summary, is part of a larger undertaking to examine failures in Scotland