This encyclopaedia provides a comprehensive overview of major theories and approaches to the study of peace and conflict across different humanities and social sciences disciplines. Peace and conflict studies (PCS) is one of the major sub-disciplines of international studies (including political science and international relations), and has emerged from a need to understand war, related systems and concepts and how to respond to it afterward. As a living reference work, easily discoverable and searchable, the Palgrave Encyclopedia of Peace and Conflict Studies offers solid material for understanding the foundational, historical, and contemporary themes, concepts, theories, events, organisations, and frameworks concerning peace, conflict, security, rights, institutions and development. The Palgrave Encyclopaedia of Peace and Conflict Studies brings together leading and emerging scholars from different disciplines to provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date resource on peace and conflict studies ever produced.

Oliver Richmond is a Professor in IR, Peace and Conflict Studies in the Department of Politics, University of Manchester, UK. He is also International Professor at Dublin City University and at the University of Tubingen. His publications include The Grand Design (Oxford University Press, 2021). He is co-editor of the Palgrave book series, Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies, and co-editor of the Journal, Peacebuilding.Dr Gëzim Visoka is Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Dublin City University, Ireland. His research expertise is on state recognition, peacebuilding and international critical theory. Dr Visoka is author or editor of numerous books, journal articles, and book chapters. Some of the recent books include: The Oxford Handbook of Peacebuilding, Statebuilding, and Peace Formation (with Oliver P. Richmond, Oxford University Press, 2021); Normalization in World Politics (with Nicolas Lemay-Hébert, The University of Michigan Press, 2022), and Routledge Handbook of State Recognition (with John Doyle and Edward Newman, Routledge, 2020), among others. He is Deputy Editor of Peacebuilding journal (Taylor and Francis), Editor of Routledge Studies in Statehood (Taylor and Francis) and Co-editor of Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies series (Palgrave Macmillan).