About This Website
Throughout history, warfare has caused untold human suffering and economic cost. In recent times, many organizations have attempted to reduce political violence. While they have achieved some successes, much of their work has been ineffective. Overall, the level of political violence has increased and is forecast to rise still further in the years ahead. This website is intended to stimulate thinking about how members of the peacebuilding community can achieve better results, individually and collectively.
Suggestions for improving the effectiveness of peacebuilding activities will be welcome.
Milt Lauenstein
Increasing Effectiveness
The peacebuilding community can make use of several approaches to increase its effectiveness. One is for peace building organizations to collaborate in developing shared strategies, priorities, and plans. A second it is to do the research needed to determine where and how to allocate resources to get the best results. A third is to rely on local knowledge and understanding in determining what actions to take.
Collaboration
- Cooperate
- Establish a strategy
- Base decisions on evidence
Research
While here and there, peacebuilders have demonstrated that they can prevent and even stop wars, their successes have been more or less at random. They have not had the evidence they need to focus their resources where they will be most effective. Without it, they are flying blind. The result is that much of their work has been ineffective, and political violence continues unabated.
Much data on past peacebuilding projects is available to researchers. Using random control trials can produce additional evidence how about where and how resources can be most effectively applied.
A new initiative, the Better Evidence Project was been established at George Mason University in 2020 to support new research that is needed. It is described below.