International conflict response often centres on halting fighting, achieving political stability, and ‘fixing’ the state. These are necessary, but not sufficient steps to building peace. The whole-of-society recovery process is equally critical. Without addressing the long-term impacts of violence and trauma on individuals, families and communities, the risk of resurgent violence remains. XCEPT research on violent and peaceful behaviour examines how people return to peaceful social functioning after war, with a focus on those most traumatised by conflict. This is the pool of people at greatest risk of returning to violence.
Below you can find and download publications by XCEPT partners on the factors that influence violent and peaceful behaviour, and explores ways to sustainably reduce violence, support recovery and enable peace and reconciliation.