On 8–9 April, SIPRI and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) held a dialogue meeting in Dakar to kick off the new initiative ‘The New Geopolitics of Conflict Management: The Future of Conflict Management and Peace Operations’.
The New Geopolitics of Conflict Management initiative succeeds the New Geopolitics of Peace Operations initiative that started in 2012. As multilateral conflict management becomes increasingly difficult and approaches become fragmented, deinstitutionalized and militarized, there is an urgent need for research and dialogue on future challenges, including those related to the implementation of the Pact for the Future. Bringing together a wide range of regional and thematic experts, the meeting focused on practical ways to adapt to these challenges and strengthen the conflict management toolbox of the United Nations and regional partners.
Key findings, debates and recommendations from the meeting will be summarized in a policy brief. Insights will also be presented at a side event during the 2025 Berlin Peacekeeping Ministerial in May, with the aim of further stimulating the discussion on the future of conflict management and peace operations.
About SIPRI’s Peace Operations and Conflict Management Programme
Peace operations and conflict management have been core elements of SIPRI’s work since the end of the cold war. Currently, SIPRI's work within the Peace Operations and Conflict Management Programme consists of six main pillars: (a) peace operations data and trends; (b) the future of peace operations, including the New Geopolitics of Conflict Management Initiative; (c) gender and peace operations and conflict management; (d) police and security sector reform in peace operations; (e) civilian aspects in peace operations; and (f) human rights and peace operations. In addition, based on its many years of experience, SIPRI has taken on many evaluation and 'lessons learned' studies regarding topical peace operations issues.