Conflict, Security & Development
The Department of War Studies hosts a wide range of research, policy, advisory, teaching and training activities relating to conflict, security and development and which enable it to serve as a true bridge between academic scholarship and real world decision-making in these fields. To this end, areas of current research include, inter alia, the political economy of civil wars; humanitarian aid and armed conflict; contemporary warfare in Africa; the United Nations and civil violence; children and armed conflict; rethinking ‘state collapse’ and the international administration of war-torn territories. Although the geographical focus covered by members of the Group is wide, Africa stands out as an area of special research interest and expertise. Developments in Iraq and Afghanistan have also been given special attention by members of the Group.
These activities are managed by two different units: Conflict, Security and Development Research Group and
Conflict, Security and Development Group located in the King's Policy Institute. The two units collaborate closely on the Department’s teaching and publication activities.