IPSS (3 March 2023): The Center of Excellence in Post-Conflict Societies, hosted by the Institute for Peace and Security Studies organised a policy dialogue on peace and security themes for researchers here today.
In her welcoming remarks, African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) CoE in Post-Conflict Societies Manager Gelila Tesfu introduced the Center, which is implementing a capacity building project with support from the UK Research and Innovation and ARUA.
She stated that the project’s objective is to strengthen the research capacity of collaborating African universities, especially in the field of peace and security studies.
This is achieved mainly by providing technical and financial support to PhD students and post-doctoral researchers working on peace, security, conflict management, governance and other related issues.
The Addis Ababa University PhD candidates presented research papers, policy briefs, and journal articles on the themes of security, society and state; urbanisation and displacement; social media, ethnicity and hate speech.
The research presented includes the following: Ontological [In]Security in Peace Process: A Case from Somali and Oromo Conflict of Southern Ethiopia by Mr. Fiseha Moreda; Government and Society in Maji Awraja (1898-1991) Southwestern Ethiopia by Amare Fentaw; Revisiting the Content and Context of Urbanization Policies from Conflict Management Perspective by Mr. Elias Gudissa; Improving the Management of Conflict-Induced Displacements in Line with Structural Causes and Multifaceted Effects in Ethiopia by Mr. Yirga Abebe; The Social Cognitive bases of Hate Speech: A Move Towards Breaking the Circle of Hatred in Ethiopia by Mr. Tadesse Megersa; and The Social Media and the Politicization of Identity in East Africa with a Focus on Ethiopia and Kenya by Mr. Megbaru Esayias.
The dialogue was attended by representatives from the AU, IGAD, UN Habitat, and the Ministry of Peace.
In her closing remarks, IPSS, ARUA Director Mercy Fekadu (PhD) acknowledged the researchers and promised to support their project and publication.
