Peace Lab

The Peace Lab at the University of York brings together research and teaching from across the University focused on a broad range of issues related to peace, including conflict, security, migration, human rights, development, and social cohesion.

Launched in 2024, the Peace Lab is the first of its kind in the UK. Our global and interdisciplinary research draws on world-leading expertise across four York centres: the York Centre for Conflict & Security; the Centre for the Comparative Study of Civil War; the Centre for Applied Human Rights; and the Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre. 

Who we are

The Peace Lab is based at the York Centre for Conflict & Security in the Department of Politics and International Relations at York, where over 25 academic staff currently work on issues linked to conflict, security, peace, development and human rights.

Led by Co-Directors Professor Nina Caspersen and Professor Graeme Davies, we work with colleagues in departments across the university including the York Law School, the Centre for Health Economics, the Department of Environment & Geography, the Department of Psychology, and the Department of Sociology.

Partnerships

We work closely with practitioners and civil society to develop innovative approaches to peace at the local, national and global level. One of our areas of expertise is the transformation of non-state armed actors and we have advised international organisations, governments and NGOs on new ways to approach these challenges. 

Supporters

The Peace Lab and its recent projects have been made possible by funding from the US Embassy in London, the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account, and the Folke Bernadotte Academy, Sweden.