Partners in Conflict and Partners in Peacebuilding

Associated Staff:

John Davies, Co-Director
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Eleni Eleftheriou
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Edy Kaufman
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The Partners in Conflict/Partners in Peacebuilding Projects work to facilitate the prevention or transformation of complex, violent conflicts, strengthen civil society, and promote transitions to appropriate and sustainable forms of democracy, using the techniques of multi-track or citizens' diplomacy. Building on the pioneering work of CIDCM's founding Director, Edward Azar, the Co-Directors of the Project, Edward Kaufman and John Davies, have developed related projects in dozens of countries around the world, including in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Burma/Thailand/China, Israel/Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Russia, Armenia/Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Lesotho, Senegal, Argentina, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador/Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Mexico, the United States and Canada. (See Partners Initiatives.)

The Projects work with local partners in vulnerable, high-risk countries or communities to help them build a sustainable, just, and inclusive peace. Finding common ground across cultural, religious, ethnic and political divides, partners representing the parties to a conflict collaborate in promoting constructive change primarily through addressing human needs. They also draw on CIDCM’s analytical data and risk assessments to identify national or group risk factors for escalating conflict or instability that need to be addressed (see Peace and Conflict 2005 and the Minorities at Risk Project).

Partners in Conflict/Partners in Peacebuilding also help to build capacity for conflict prevention and transformation through providing training programs in multi-track diplomacy, both locally and overseas. Through the Songs for Peace initiative, the Partners project also teams up with artists to promote public awareness of peacebuilding, while also raising needed funds to support our work with partners around the world.