The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS) was established in 1988 through the inspiration of students and academics at the University of Sydney who wanted to create the opportunity for study of the causes and manifestations of violent conflict and the means of achieving peace with justice.

The Centre supports advocacy, research and teaching at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary critiques of social and political structures and behaviours that perpetuate violence and injustice. Whether in interpersonal relationships, community relations, within organisations and nations, or with reference to international relations, CPACS promotes non-violent peaceful means of resolving conflict that meet human needs and respect human rights.

The creative use of power that supports respect for humanity and a focus on human sovereignty underpins the Centre’s work and scholarship. A focus on human security that entails recognising the interdependence between social, economic and psychological well-being is preferred to the reliance on military means of promoting national security. Respect for cultural diversity and inclusion of multiple perspectives on a democratic polity are seen as essential ingredients for a peaceful society.

CPACS maintains an active interdisciplinary research program, conducted by the Director, academic staff and affiliates, Visiting Fellows, project coordinators and a fast-growing cohort of postgraduate research students. Past research has focussed on disarmament, human rights and corporate responsibility, Aboriginal night patrols, nonviolent policing, and the effects of racism on Lebanese youth in Western Sydney. Current research priorities include peace journalism; peace through tourism; transitional justice and reconciliation in Cambodia, Rwanda, East Timor and Sierra Leone; peacebuilding theory and practice, the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission and the role of civil society; human rights and peaceful dialogue in West Papua; genocide prevention, responsibility to protect and the need for a United Nations Emergency Peace Service; and the ‘war on terror’, erosion of civil liberties, use of torture and the study of terrorism in historical perspective. For further details refer to this page.

Research topics being pursued by postgraduate research students include: the Islamic dimension of religion and politics in Australia; the role of the media in influencing American foreign policy in relation to intervention in Darfur; corporate social responsibility and climate change; women’s empowerment in peacebuilding in Peru and East Timor; the role of shame and humiliation in international relations; the United Nations and peacekeeping in Burundi; transitional justice and peacebuilding in Liberia; the role of social, cultural, historical and political factors in determining acceptance of the proposal for a United Nations Emergency Peace Service; human rights and the media in Malawi; political justice and self-determination in West Papua; the ‘spiritual revolution’ and its relationship to nonviolent conflict transformation; and an analysis of the discourse of peacebuilding. For details of student research topics and publications see this page.