Contemporary conflicts and global ’new wars’ are conditioned by a set of interacting factors and processes that need to be analyzed as a whole. 

The growing challenge represented by global warming and environmental change is likely to lead to an escalation and spread of conflicts in the affected parts of the world.  This potential for conflict is compounded by the increasing competition for access to land and water that accompanies population growth and the increasing flow of migrants and refugees as well as growing urbanisation. Such conflicts are especially acute in fragile and weak states, and the presence of bilateral and multilateral actors often ends up becoming part of the conflicts rather than part of their solution. 

Research within this theme has a focus on:

• Ethno-religious violence
• Conflict and reconciliation
• The global fusion of politics and religion
• Issues of migration and integration
• The struggle for right to natural resources
• The causes and consequences of natural catastrophes, post-conflict reconstruction and trauma treatment.

Researchers in this theme are also centrally placed in the Platform for Culture, Development and Human Security under Universities Denmark funded by the Danish International Development Agency (Danida).

M.A. programs

The Section is host within this theme to the English language M.A. degree ’Global Studies and Development’ as well as to the cross-disciplinary and English language M.A. in Human Security.