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From War Lords to Peace
Lords:
Local Leadership Capacity in Peace Processes
Published in February 2005, the full project report can be downloaded here.
A Summary of the project findings is also available - click here.
2. Summary
Although conflict research continues to generate a wide literature,
comparatively little attention has been devoted to the role, capacity
and effect of leaders in conflicted and violent societies in fomenting
violence (negative leadership) or in effecting reconciliation (positive
leadership)between conflicting groups. This gap in the research is both
surprising and problematic, given that the difference between such leadership
can mean the difference between the continuance of a conflict and the
development of a peace process. The War Lords and Peace Lords
Project addresses this gap in the hope of increasing understanding of
the factors which create and sustain both negative and positive forms
of leadership in areas of protracted conflict.
Based on detailed international comparative research, the project aims to:
- Determine how particular leaders come to power in areas of violent conflict
- Discover why followers tend to support particular types of leadership
- Ascertain how or why leaders continue to maintain support during conflict
- Trace the processes of leadership decision-making
- Identify possible replicable activities which can facilitate the development of more positive leadership
A report and series of articles will be produced which will provide readers with
a review of the current literature and case based insights on leadership
actions in conflicted societies. the project aims for a policy effect.
An international conference will be organised and it is hoped that the
research findings will be incorporated into the programmers of international
training organisations.
3. Countries
covered in project
Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Afghanistan.
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