Institution-Centered Conflict Research: Investigating Patterns and Dynamics of State–Society Relations in Three Peruvian Regions Through the Lens of Local Conflicts

Abstract

This case introduces the method of institution-centered conflict research. We applied this method in three conflict-affected regions of Peru as part of a wider study into the impact of service delivery on political trust after conflict. The method builds on the idea that all societies find more or less institutionalized ways to deal with conflicts and that the way they do is of paramount importance to the patterns and dynamics of social order that emerges. Hence, conflict analysis can be a powerful heuristic tool to assess social order. In this case, we introduce the research rationale and explain how we implemented the research in Peru in cooperation with local teams trained and debriefed by us. We find that the institution-centered conflict research approach is powerful for gathering relevant contextual data and identifying meaningful case studies that provide nuance for the research questions. However, we also find that to be implemented successfully, the institution-centered conflict research approach demands significant time and human resources.

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