Summary and Objectives

Funder: EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Research Executive Agency, Marie Curie Actions – International Research Staff Exchange Scheme

Start date of project: 03/06/2012 Duration: 36 months

‘Perspectives of Conflict Transformation from the Middle East and Europe (CTMEE)’ is facilitating research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange between three partner institutions – Coventry University (UK), Kadir Has University (Turkey), and the Arab American University in Jenin (Palestine). The goal of CTMEE is to jointly explore what types of conflict transformation mechanisms are being utilised in Turkey and Palestine, and how these mechanisms engage with understandings and practices of conflict transformation in Western Europe. A prominent sub-theme in CTMEE is the role of youth in conflict transformation, which is motivated by demographic youth bulges and recent political conflict in both Turkey and Palestine. CTMEE research is investigating how youth can play a constructive role in peacebuilding in both contexts.

Objectives

  • To identify appropriate conflict transformation strategies and methods for protracted violent conflicts.
  • To examine the ways in which youth can constructively contribute to peacebuilding.
  • To build a network of expertise on conflict transformation in the Middle East and Europe through workshops, conferences and other knowledge exchange activities.
  • To provide opportunities for research on cutting-edge peacebuilding issues for postgraduate students.

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