Our Work
War is a complex problem, but we can prevent it. Social scientists know much about the causes of conflict and war. They know that if too little is done to settle emerging disputes peacefully, a conflict can escalate into unstable peace, violence, a crisis and even a war. The bitter consequences are lost lives, squandered opportunities for development, and displaced and separated families.
Research shows there are common risks to stability and peace, called conflict indicators — and as a result we are increasingly able to identify geographic areas and socio-political problems most susceptible to the outbreak of war. When indicators point to a country of risk, BEFORE starts a violence prevention project if the following are present:
- Potential for extensive, destabilizing violence or political disintegration that leads to large-scale violence;
- An unstable peace characterized by a growing perception of potential crises, with signs of low level violence or political confrontation; and
- Local civil society organizations and forums to work with.
Read more about BEFORE’s active violence prevention in West Africa.
