An Analysis of the Peace Research Institutions
Overview
- Absence of a world-class peace research institute in Asia
- Demand for a world-class peace research institute that academically addresses the critical issues of peace and conflicts in Asia
- Need for an expansion beyond traditional security-centered approach to research on the triple nexus for sustaining global peace
1. Peace Institutes
a. Types of Peace Institutes
Peace research institutes are generally concentrated in Europe and the United States, and can be largely classified into independent think tanks and university-affiliated research institutes within the universities.
- Independent Think Tank: Key activities are policy research and proposals, with a focus on strategy for peace and conflict. Emphasis is placed on networking between government, civil society and international organizations. ※ Leading Institutes: The United States Institute of Peace, The International Peace Institute (USA), The Peace Research Institute Oslo (Norway), Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sweden), The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (Germany)
- University-affiliated Research Institute: Key activity is focused around research and education including degree programs.※ Leading Institutes: University of Notre Dame KROC Institute for International Peace Studies (USA), Uppsala university Department of Peace and Conflict Research (Sweden)
b. Research Areas and Subjects
Research areas and subjects vary from institution to institution. Due to their tendency to focus on a few regions and subjects according to their need and capabilities, the existing institutions do not cover all regions or the entire agenda related to peace.
The institutions can be categorized as follows in terms of main orientation: 1) focusing on traditional security (The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt), 2) combining security and peace (The Peace Research Institute Oslo, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), 3) pursuing policy research (The Institute for Security and Development Policy), and 4) focusing on academic research and education (Uppsala university Department of Peace and Conflict Research, KROC Institute for International Peace Studies).
2. Program Rankings in Peace Studies
There are only a few dozens of MA and a dozen of PhD programs in the world according to a survey by Kroc Institute for International Peace. The rankings of the top universities for peace studies are collected by six institutions, of which only two conduct at a global level. The evaluation criteria of these rankings are often not clearly defined and the metrics that measure academic excellence vary greatly from ranking to ranking. If Seoul National University exerts itself to systematically promote peace studies, it may well swiftly enter the global top ten.
University Impact Rankings 2019 by SDG: Peace/Justice/Strong Institutions (by THE)
| 1 | National Taiwan University, Taiwan |
|---|---|
| 2 | Rostov State University of Economics, Russian Federation |
| 3 | SOAS University of London, United Kingdom |
| 4 | University of Helsinki, Finland |
| 5 | University of Leicester, United Kingdom |
Top 10 Masters Degrees in Peace and Conflict Studies (by Global Peace Careers)
| 1 | Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies— Master of Arts in Peace and Justice (MAPJ) |
|---|---|
| 2 | Georgetown University’s Master of Conflict Resolution |
| 3 | University of Groningen’s Master of Religion, Conflict, and Globalization |
| 4 | University of Oslo’s Master of Peace and Conflict Studies |
| 5 | University of Uppsala’s Master of Peace and Conflict Studies |
3. Implication for the OLIVE Initiative
- The publication of journals, especially of those in English, plays a major role in determining the quality and reputation of peace research.
- Studies related to International Security still constitute the vast majority of the research.
- There are relatively few research institutes that focus on Sustaining Peace, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Triple Nexus of Peace.
- The most appropriate benchmarks for the SNU OLIVE Initiative include The Peace Research Institute Oslo, KROC Institute for International Peace Studies, Uppsala university Department of Peace and Conflict Research.