Social Science Research Council

The Program on Global Security and Cooperation held the first policy briefing in the dissemination phase of its Project on Political Violence in New Delhi, India, on August 9th, 2005. The purpose of this policy briefing was to disseminate the findings of the joint SSRC-NUPI intensive and systematic study of protracted violent conflicts from around the world. The project seeks to draw lessons from these conflicts and to help shape a common frame of understanding between analysts and policy makers in order to formulate policies that have a greater likelihood of success in resolving protracted conflicts. Following three years of field research, comparative analysis and synthesis of results, GSC has launched the final stage in the project which focuses on policy recommendations and dissemination of findings. To this effect, policy briefings are being organized in different locations around the world. At these events, scholars who have participated in the project present the findings of their case studies, a synthesis of the comparative analysis, and policy recommendations outlining new options for dealing successfully with political violence. At the policy briefing in New Delhi three of the researchers who have participated in the project presented their findings: Sumantra Bose on the insurgent groups in Kashmir; Kirsten Schulze on GAM in Aceh; and Brendan O’Duffy on the LTTE in Sri Lanka. The policy briefing was attended by an audience comprising members of the strategic and policy establishment in New Delhi, including government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officials, members of the armed forces, diplomats, academics and journalists.