ISD (Institute for Strategic Dialogue)’s Post

KIND's Eva Veldhuizen Ochodničanová's new study explores the link between conflict and human trafficking, focusing on Ukraine. It identifies key risks for those affected by the war and introduces a new way to understand trafficking in conflict zones. Learn how conflict can lead to exploitation. https://lnkd.in/eTMyuGRz

Our latest from PeaceRep on the peace and conflict challenges facing the new UK government, and how to navigate fragmentation ⬇

Thanks for the evidence based and practical recommendations, PeaceRep: 1. Leverage the UK’s strength in convening and brokering actors in fragmented peace processes. Drawing on its ‘thought leadership’, deep expertise, and influence as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the UK can build new peacemaking partnerships and find new ways of coordinating ‘the mediators’. Where coordination is not feasible, the UK could ‘mediate between the mediators’ who often intervene with different goals for mediation. When building new conflict resolution efforts, be guided by the UK’s specific historic and moral responsibilities and follow ‘do no harm’ principles. 2. Manage expectations and embrace the political and messy nature of peace processes. Peace and transition processes are non-linear and messy (see PeaceRep’s ‘messy timeline’ tool). External actors need to be aware of their limited influence, particularly in fragmented contexts, and manage their own and stakeholders’ expectations of what is achievable. Avoid seeking technical solutions to deeply political conflicts. Take the calculated political risks required to support peacemaking. 3. Ensure that all conflict resolution initiatives centre the views and experiences of marginalised constituencies, and take a flexible approach to supporting women’s full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in peace negotiations, particularly at early stages. WPS interventions need to adapt to the new mediation landscape, which requires critical reflection and alternative approaches (such as co-mediation). 4. Commit to long-term, adaptive, and local support. Make long-term commitments to sustainable diplomatic support and conflict resolution funding that can build trust with civil society actors, and re-establish the UK as a reliable partner. Support creative approaches to preventative diplomacy and community peacebuilding. 5. Map mediation initiatives and further link humanitarian, development and peace (HDP) data and political analysis. It is critical to develop new ways of mapping and sharing information about mediation initiatives. Understand what parts of a conflict system they address, what their goals are, and what conflicts remain unaddressed and could benefit from some form of process. Ensure interoperability of this data with other conflict and HDP data to evidence-based and holistic policymaking. 6. Use the UK’s data and technology ambition to drive PeaceTech data and AI innovation, as demonstrated by PeaceRep and others. Foster Global North-South PeaceTech collaboration, bringing together public and private technology innovators and actors from across the HDP nexus. 7. Teach and train the new generation of UK diplomats and peacemakers. The approaches and tools of the 1990s and 2000s are no longer fit for purpose. Equip diplomats and those working across the HDP nexus with cutting-edge subject matter expertise and tools relevant to the new context.

How can the UK's new government navigate the changing nature of peace and conflict? https://lnkd.in/evfbFAhY PeaceRep research shows that a key feature of many of today’s conflicts and peace processes is fragmentation, which raises a series of challenges for peacemakers. Here, we share some of our key findings and recommendations to the UK government to inform its role as a conflict resolution actor.

📺 In our recent webinar, 'Assessing the trajectory of the Middle East conflict,' Dalia Dassa Kaye spoke about what a Trump administration might mean for US policy on Israel and Palestine. Listen below

The themes of grief, blame, and calls for peace intertwine narratives on the #MajdalShams attack, reflecting the complex dynamics of conflict, media portrayal, and international responses. https://lnkd.in/gbb4KfRr

As 2024 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year that was as vicious as it was volatile. Conflict surged by 25%, bombings dominated as the most frequent form of violence, and nearly 200,000 political violence events were recorded worldwide. Palestine emerged as the most dangerous place, with over 35,000 fatalities in 12 months, while Ukraine remained the deadliest conflict globally. In this month's newsletter, I unpack these trends and their implications for 2025, drawing from ACLED's Conflict Index and Watchlist. From Myanmar’s fractured armed groups to the chaotic implications of Trump’s re-election, it’s clear the global conflict landscape is evolving faster than ever—and unpredictably. I also share personal reflections on how analysts should navigate these challenging times: as reliable narrators who put evidence first. No thumbs on the scale. Have a full read: https://lnkd.in/ez7JHeu5

Good and bad of anti-Israel and anti Palestine-Hamas. (Part2) When discussing anti-Israel and anti-Hamas sentiments in the context of Palestine, it's important to approach the topic with sensitivity and a clear understanding of the different perspectives involved. Here’s a balanced examination of both sides: Read more...

The Israel-Hamas conflict sparked international discussion that has been plagued by mis- and disinformation, hate speech and extremist narratives. ISD’s latest report investigates how these online trends impacted discourse in the UK, France and Germany in the year following the October 7 attacks. Drawing upon data collected from domestic extremist actors, we discovered that disinformation and hate speech peaked during critical local and global events, such as the initial October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, the first Iranian missile strike in April 2024, the UK summer riots in August 2024 and the Lebanese pager attacks in September 2024. We also found that updates from the ground, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hate, and narratives and responses to the conflict dominated the online discussion space. The full report is available on our website. https://lnkd.in/dXy5fgVP

As we approach the devastating one-year mark since Oct. 7, it is important that journalists keep in mind this context from the Institute of Middle East Understanding: