Peace and Development Research Workshop

The social sciences literature and policymakers often take for granted that positive developmental outcomes, including poverty reduction, risk mitigation and democratization, are mutually reinforcing. Yet the empirical evidence is still ambiguous, particularly for post-conflict and fragile states. To help fill this void, the Centre for Developing-Area Studies, the Development Research Group of the World Bank and the International Development Research Centre are undertaking a major new cross-regional, interdisciplinary study of the relationship between democratization, poverty reduction and risk mitigation in fragile and post-conflict states. More specifically the project will explore three sets of related issues: 1) Participatory Governance and Service Provision; 2) Powersharing for Peacebuilding and Development; and 3) The Economic Agenda for Post-Conflict Reconstruction. These issues will be addressed through a series of papers addressing the larger theoretical aspects and empirical trends, and detailed case studies of Bosnia, Colombia, Lebanon, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Sudan. The Workshop is the first stage of the project, in which the larger theoretical issues will be discussed with the aim of preparing a shared perspective for guiding the case studies. Beyond its specific findings, the project hopes to serve as a model for developing effective North-South and South-South research collaboration.

The workshop is free and open to the public. RSVP by Tuesday, Nov. 4, to CDAS Administration and visit our website for more information.