Opinions & Insights

A look at the role of urban centers versus rural areas as an interesting yet often overlooked element in research on intrastate conflict.

Although a Cypriot solution negotiated by Greek and Turkish Cypriots may seem virtually impossible. The reelection in February 2018 of Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades who along with his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Mustafa Akınc, has been a longtime proponent of reunification under a bizonal...

The nature of jihadist recruiting has changed. Utilizing data on jihadist fighters coming from Turkey, Güneş Murat Tezcür and I find that the individuals who join Islamic organizations lack the theological training and political activism prevalent in recruits from past jihadi conflicts.

We know a lot about the migration routes of the thousands who die at sea trying to get to Europe. But what about the plight of Africans migrating throughout Africa, often in unmonitored waters? In this third post in a series on migration issues at land and sea, we examine the risks and factors of mi...

To determine where United Nations funds are best used to protect civilians, we must understand where violence most frequently occurs within a conflict zone.

Tactical, operational, and strategic intelligence is essential to successful peace operations. Understanding the situation on the ground allows peacekeepers a better chance of success by guiding deployments, force protection measures, and other crucial operational decisions. Peacekeepers must also ...

Postwar elections often increase the risk of renewed fighting between combatants. Will this be the case with Colombia’s upcoming presidential elections?

Secure Fisheries highlights women in fisheries on International Women’s Day

Popular rhetoric paints refugees as a threat to their host countries. OEF Research examines the relationship and asks whether countries should refuse migrants in this second blog in our mixed migration series.

Nationalism can be used, as a recent New York Times video argues, to exlude and villify outsiders. However, it can also be used to overcome linguistic and tribal differences to provide public goods and promote stability during times of great upheaval.

For over 10,000 years, Lake Victoria has provided food and income to all who wanted to fish its waters. But the days of open access are coming to a dramatic close.

UN peacekeeping operations have evolved in recent years to include more robust missions that pursue peace enforcement in a way not previously seen.

Empirical research shows that the presence of peacekeeping missions at or near full deployment significantly reduces violence against civilians. However, UN peacekeeping missions are often slow to deploy.

Legitimacy and trust in government are important for peace. But what happens when this trust erodes? People’s perceptions are not always based on rational criteria. We are ripe for manipulation regardless of what kind of political system we live under.

Governing fairly is an essential element in creating peaceful societies. That’s what David Cortright, Conor Seyle, and Kristin Wall argue in their new book Governance for Peace. In peaceful societies, people rely on governance institutions to solve conflicts—they do not take up arms to fight their c...