Conflict Prevention: Connecting Policy and Practice

This paper introduces the terminology as well as key concepts relevant to the understanding of what is referred to as 'conflict prevention'. After an overview of the evolution of the concept on the international policy level, concrete examples illustrate some efforts that are used to prevent violent conflicts in different geographical contexts, stages of conflict and levels of society. The methods introduced are early warning and early response, local peace committees, women situation rooms and infrastructures for peace. Finally, the paper provides considerations on how existing methods can be reviewed and improved based on current policy insights.