Platform for Conflict Resolution and Conflict Transformation ResourcesStatement of objectives

At the December meeting of the Board of the Society responsibility for website content and development was passed from Jim Bryant to Tom Woodhouse at the University of Bradford. In the transition the Society sees the website policy very much to be based on continuity, guided by the aims of the Society to provide the best possible service to link the work and interests of conflict researchers across the UK.

The Society, through its links section on the website, is also conscious of the dynamic development of the conflict research field worldwide, and currently approximately thirty links direct researchers to key journals, institutions and associations which represent state of the art work in the field.

As part of its commitment to enhancing support for research via the website, the December Council meeting agreed to explore the feasibility of a new feature within the CRS site, to be called the ‘Platform for Conflict Resolution and Conflict Transformation Resources’.

We presently envisage the Platform being developed in three phases, each running concurrently but with the main energy and time initially put into phase 1, as below, with phases 2 and 3 being developed as time and resources permit.

Phase 1: UK Resources

Development of the Platform to serve as a free space in which all those currently working on conflict resolution, conflict transformation, mediation and related  projects in the UK (including the Conflict Research Society ) would be invited to summarise their activities and exchange information. This resource could be developed and expanded over time to become the prime site for UK CR/CT information and knowledge exchange.

Phase 2: European and International

The Platform will also help  to develop further links  with major centres and prominent individuals in the field outside the UK. The conflict research field is an exciting and dynamic one which is rapidly growing internationally. Key networks of researchers and rich sources of data, knowledge, and skills are now being promoted on accessible and sophisticated websites on all continents.

Phase 3: Cyber Peacemaking and the Conflict Laboratory

Beyond the role of the website as a static source of information and information exchange, the conflict research field and the CRS also recognises the rise in the importance and influence of information and communication technologies in conflict research, mediation and conflict processes. As the Platform develops it may be possible for the CRS to support work on the use of current and emergent web based technologies to open up new opportunities for dialogue and negotiation, and their uses in conflict of research, learning and dissemination.