"Regional Conflict Formations" (RCFs) are sets of transnational conflicts that form mutually reinforcing linkages throughout a region, making for more protracted and obdurate conflicts. This research dealt with both the processes through which such RCFs develop and the challenges they pose to conflict management.
The Regional Conflict Formations project sought to develop a general framework for analyzing and managing regional networks of conflict. It undertook a structured comparison of the Great Lakes region of Central Africa and South Central Asia, with reference to West Africa and the Andean region. Conferences on the former two regions in Nairobi and Istanbul helped foster development of regional collaboration among scholars and practitioners.
RCFs present formidable obstacles to peace efforts by multilateral organizations and other international actors. Mitigating or managing RCFs requires the integration of local, regional, and global action. It also requires integrating political, economic and social action, in particular by regional and sub-regional formal organizations or informal networks. The RCF project also studied how international actors can help support such regional efforts.
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