Peace Studies: A Guide to Reference Sources: Research Centers

"The focus of CSP research is on the possibilities of complex systemic management of all manner of societal and systemic conflicts. The Center regularly monitors and reports on general trends in societal-system performance, at the global, regional, and state levels of analysis and in the key systemic dimensions of conflict, governance, and (human and physical) development in the sincere belief that the foundation and guarantor of good governance is an active, informed public." [Web site]

Based in the Netherlands, this institute analyses and monitors contemporary conflicts and security threats to The Netherlands and the world at large on five key-themes: defence-related issues, terrorism and radicalisation, proliferation of non-conventional weapons, international security & international security organisations, and changing strategic environments. Furthermore, CSCP's Conflict Research Unit analyses the conflict cycle from prevention to reconstruction.

"The Department of Peace and Conflict Research was established in 1971 to conduct peace research and offer courses in peace and conflict studies." [Web site] Creators of the Uppsala Conflict Database.

PRIO was founded in 1959 and became a fully independent institute in 1966. It was one of the first centres of peace research in the world, and it is Norway's only peace research institute. Its founding and early influence were instrumental in projecting the idea of peace research. It is the parent institution of the Centre for the Study of Civil War.

" Established in 1966, SIPRI provides data, analysis and recommendations, based on open sources, to policymakers, researchers, media and the interested public. SIPRI is named as one of the world's leading think tanks in Foreign Policy magazine's "Think Tank Index"." [Web site]

"USIP is the independent, nonpartisan conflict management center created by Congress to prevent and mitigate international conflict without resorting to violence. USIP works to save lives, increase the government's ability to deal with conflicts before they escalate, reduce government costs, and enhance our national security." [Web site]

"Nuclear Proliferation International History Project (NPIHP) explores the international history of nuclear weapons and their proliferation using archival documents and oral history interviews from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, China, Israel, India, South Africa, Sweden and more. (Image, Enrico Fermi, Smithsonian)"