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12/02/2020 16:52

BICC Annual Report 2020: Peace and conflict research in times of COVID-19

Susanne Heinke Public Relations
Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC)

    It will, in all likelihood, be some time before the real extent becomes visible to which COVID-19 has led to profound upheavals in societies and economies and set in motion new conflict dynamics. Restricted by the pandemic, BICC staff still continued their empirical research in regions characterised by forced displacement, volatile, violent conflicts and arms proliferation. BICC’s Annual Report illustrates the unique expertise of BICC: Research and policy advice that put the perspective of affected people in focus.

    The Essay in the Annual Report, for instance, addresses the extent to which refugees who have fled war and violence and other migrants are affected by the pandemic. “COVID-19 is like a magnifying glass: It shows all too clearly existing problems in society. To put it bluntly, it is about the question of who has the right to mobility and who has not”, Conrad Schetter, Director for Research at BICC, explains.
    In 2020, BICC's research also placed great emphasis on forced displacement. At the same time, it looked into the dynamics of violent conflict and its actors. However, BICC researchers not only look at the conflict situations in the Sahel, the Middle East or Nagorno-Karabakh but also at society in Germany. The Annual Report 2020 also presents projects that deal with the polarisation of society in Germany and tendencies of radicalisation, such as through violent Salafism or extreme right-wing groups. “An important task here is to share the expertise we have gained with local authorities, ministries and politicians to facilitate more effective preventive measures”, Conrad Schetter stresses.
    Yet another focus of the BICC Annual Report is our work in small arms and light weapons control. In many African countries, the escalation of violence and the increase in terrorist acts are closely linked to the cross-border proliferation of such weapons. BICC Experts support the African Union and other regional organisations there in developing strategies and processes for future small arms and light weapons control.
    Conrad Schetter, Director for Research at BICC summarises: “Currently, BICC is working on highly volatile topics and has set itself the task of bringing together research and political practice in a dialogue at both the national and international level.”
    You will find the Annual Report (in German and English and e-accessible) as a pdf at: https://www.bicc.de/uploads/tx_bicctools/BICC_AR_2020.pdf

    ***

    BICC is a non-university think tank with international staff. It was founded in 1994 and is a member of the Johannes-Rau-Research Community. BICC’s Director for Research holds a professorship for Peace and Conflict research at Bonn University. The Center is granted an annual core funding by the Land North Rhine-Westphalia. It receives third-party funds from German and international research institutions, federal ministries and international organisations.

    Further information:
    Susanne Heinke
    Head of Public Relations
    Phone: +49 (0)228 911 96-44
    email: pr@bicc.de
    Follow BICC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BICC_Bonn


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    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists, Scientists and scholars, all interested persons
    Politics, Social studies
    transregional, national
    Research projects, Scientific Publications
    English


     

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