Conflict prevention is built on the principle that, through skilled negotiation and mediation, the most intractable of differences can be settled peacefully. The most effective forms of conflict prevention and peacebuilding balance political with social needs and place a greater focus on local perspectives. They consider the important role played by young people and women, as well as taking into account social factors such as health and the environment.
This custom-designed, interdisciplinary MSc examines this specialised field through the lenses of human security, social justice, and diplomacy. You will gain the latest knowledge in areas such as conflict analysis, prevention, resolution and transformation, community-driven reconstruction, and peace processes in the context of contemporary conflicts and broader humanitarian interventions.
Using a range of innovative teaching techniques we incorporate the latest research, delivered by a combination of academics and practitioners – many of whom are recognised as world-leading experts in their field. You will have opportunities to develop operational and vocational skills in conflict mediation, humanitarian intervention, everyday negotiation, conflict-sensitive programme design, the use of peace indicators, participatory approaches to peacebuilding, and gender-sensitive approaches to security.
Find out more from MSc Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding programme leader, Dr Alexander Neads, below.
Programme leader, Dr Alexander Neads is an Assistant Professor in International Security in the School of Government and International Affairs
DGSi staff are engaged in world-leading research on peace, security and development.
The diversity of the staff and students in the MSc made the experience at SGIA extremely rich. Not only are you surrounded by people from around the world, but also by diverse academic and professional experiences.
The MSc Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding course is designed to meet expectations of those who are either new to the field or who want to further develop their understanding of international and intrastate peace, reconciliation and humanitarian processes. I highly recommend the course and the School to anyone interested in international affairs.
During a conflict, would you know what urgent actions need to be tackled? The Durham Global Security Institute, based within the School of Government and International Affairs gives students the opportunity to put their learning into action during their Capstone Humanitarian Intervention Simulation. Watch our MSc Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding students put their skills to the test below.
During the course I have had the opportunity to meet very many interesting scholars, practitioners and very intelligent and diverse fellow students, from different cultural and academic backgrounds. The course gave me insight in things I had only read about in books before by confronting us with people who have actually been in the field, and by taking us there ourselves through the study trip and fieldwork opportunities for our dissertations.
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