NWO Strategic Theme Conflict and Security
Conflicts occur on a daily basis and form an integral part of all social systems – conflicts occur within families, in neighbourhood communities between rivalling groups of youths, within and between employment organizations and their representation, between various ethnic groups in societies and between (coalitions) of countries.
The global media offer us examples of conflict every day: conflicts in the Middle East and in Sudan; conflicts in the oil sector in Russia and Nigeria, conflicts between groups of senior citizens and the government and conflicts between local groups and ethnic minority youths. Even though not everyone is directly affected by these conflicts, they do influence our daily lives. We are, for example, confronted with oil price increases and we face changes in wages or employment conditions. An international conflict (for example Israel-Palestine) can sometimes provide an insight into conflicts on a local level (for example: Dutch - Moroccon youths in Amsterdam).
Due to the frequent and structural nature of conflicts, conflict is increasingly a subject for policymakers. For example, in the years 2005-2006 the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations developed the strategic themes of ‘the unknown citizen’ and ‘the unknown Islam’ within the scope of which research studies were conducted into the religious and ethnic tensions in Dutch society, radicalisation and terrorism. At the Dutch Ministry of Defence, for example, gender relationships within the forces were one of the priorities in 2007.
Studying conflicts in social systems in every form and shape is at the core of a multitude of scientific disciplines. Apart from the field of Social Sciences, research into conflict is conducted by scientists in the field of Humanities and WOTRO Science for Global Development. Internationally, Dutch researchers play a prominent and leading role in conflict research in each of these fields.
In recent years, three global trends in conflict research and theory development have been defined. Each has its own important implications for explaining the way in which social systems, ranging from families to countries, respond to, intervene with and deal with conflicts. These trends are: 1) the multifaceted functions of conflict, 2) the dynamic and longitudinal nature of conflict and 3) cross-level influences.
The abovementioned trends form the basis of the NWO Strategic Theme of Conflict and Security and are expressed in specific research programmes. There are a total number of seven research programmes: 1) Ethnic Conflict in local communities and societies; 2) Conflict around work and organisations; 3) Framing conflict in culture, politics, and science; 4) Natural resources and conflicts; 5) Conflict escalation, justice and intervention; 6) Conflict and religion and 7) Gender and conflict. Within the scope of each of these research programmes specific questions are addressed that are highly relevant in science as well as in society. The organisation of these research programmes allows for scientists from various disciplines to work together.