Beyond Conflict

Last week Beyond Conflict Program Lead Opeyemi Adeojo was in Doha, participating in the inauguration of the Behavioural Insights Academy ( ), a flagship initiative of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism ( ) that combines the fields of mental health, social psychology, and behavioral economics to prevent and counter violent extremism ( ).

During the event, Opeyemi Adeojo had the opportunity to share some noteworthy BC initiatives that specifically tackle identity-based violence. These initiatives have successfully applied the principles of in their design, implementation, and ex*****on, with the primary objective of preventing violent conflicts. Our innovative approaches to reducing violent conflict among hostile groups in the sub-Saharan region are truly distinctive.

As an organization committed to conflict prevention, resolution, and , we take great pleasure in continually integrating the latest advancements in and . By harnessing the profound insights derived from social psychology and behavioral science, we gain the ability to discern the countless subtle cues that significantly influence human decision-making and behavior.

How can lessons learned from intractable global conflicts be seen through the lens of and harnessed for ?

Frank Giustra (co-chair of the International Crisis Group) spoke with our founder and CEO, Tim Phillips, about the neuroscience of conflict and the role partisan play in driving Americans further apart.

Check it out!

Opinion | Are we really as divided as we think? How dark forces are attempting to alienate us from our neighbours America is divided. But what we may not be aware of is that our individual perceptions about how the others feel about us may be way off.

"I tell my students all the time that our perspectives on the world are a function of our lived experiences. If we have different lived experiences, it’s understandable why we would have different perspectives.”

Check out this article for the UMass Magazine to gain insights into the life and work of Dr. Linda Tropp!

https://www.umass.edu/magazine/spring-2023/gap

We are grateful to have Dr. Tropp on our Research and Policy Advisory Committee and to have partnered with her on Renewing American Democracy: Navigating a Changing Nation, available at https://beyondconflictint.org/renewing-american-democracy

Mind the Gap Finding a way through social division

Happy National Week of Conversation!

"We are being fed a story of division, but that’s not our only story."

Research by Beyond Conflict and our partners shows that Americans overestimate the degree to which the other party dislikes, dehumanizes, and disagrees with them.

Learn how you can counter divisive narratives and engage across differences for the sixth annual National Week of Conversation: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2023/04/17/national-week-conversation-how-fight-toxic-polarization/11658802002/

USA TODAY

Toxic polarization is poisoning America. Here's how you can help stop it this week. It’s time we get back to talking to one another, and the National Week of Conversation is the perfect moment to bring everyone back to the table.

Nearly 30 years ago, our CEO and founder, Timothy Phillips brought leaders from South Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America to to help communities across the divide imagine a new way forward built on , respect, and understanding.

Today, Tim is honored to return to Belfast to commemorate the anniversary of the and discuss the continuing importance of addressing "the deeply held emotional identity divisions" that drive violence and discord in Northern Ireland to this day.

Finding Peace In Northern Ireland The Good Friday Agreement didn’t go far enough. Underlying tensions and hatred do not disappear with a peace accord alone.

📮 You're invited!

Join Glasswing International and COP² for a discussion on Action at the Intersection of and with BC's Chief Psychologist, Dr. Vivian Khedari and Dr. Gary Belkin, founder of BillionMinds and COP².

"Mental health" is an essential resource for the collective ability of whole communities and societies to respond to and shape the urgent challenges posed by the .

🌍 RSVP: [email protected]

❗New Blog Post ❗

Beyond Conflict's Program Lead, Opeyemi Adeojo, analyzes the political, social, and psychological consequences of 's recent general and the rising trend of toxic in the country.

"Addressing these issues requires cross-disciplinary partnerships between scholars, practitioners, and communities in Nigeria to develop and test effective that promote social cohesion and counter the rise of regimes."

Read and learn more about how Beyond Conflict is addressing intergroup conflict and toxic polarization in Nigeria 👇

https://beyondconflictint.org/news/mitigating-the-threat-of-polarization-in-nigerias-democratic-system/

This week, Counter Extremism Project (CEP)'s will be hosting its first ever public workshop, with presentations from CEP's Dr. Juncal Fernandez-Garayzabal and Beyond Conflict's Dr. Vivian Khedari DePierro on the underpinnings of the 4RNetwork and how it will advance evidence-based mechanisms that can support those working in the and space.

🗓 Wednesday, April 5, 2023
⏰ 11:00 a.m. ET / 16:00 GMT / 17:00 CET

Register here to join:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: The Radicalization, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Recidivism Network – Creating a Community of Practice. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. The Radicalization, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Recidivism Network (4R Network) is hosting its first workshop. During this workshop CEP's Dr. Juncal Fernandez-Garayzabal and Beyond Conflict's Dr. Vivian Khedari will give attendees a brief overview of the rationale behind the 4R Network and it...

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the in Northern Ireland, it’s important to recognize the critical role that the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (NIWC) played in securing peace after decades of violence and division.

Beyond Conflict was honored to work with the founders of the Coalition in Northern Ireland and to help bring their wisdom and experience to communities in the Balkans, Central America and the Middle East.

Irish Taoiseach, Hillary Clinton spotlight women’s role in Northern Ireland’s peace process on 25th Anniversary Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton joined leaders from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and the United States at Georgetown on March 16 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Northern Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement. The agreement brought an end to the c...