The Centre for the Study of Ethnic Conflict brings together staff of the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy & Politics with research expertise on, and interest in, this practical puzzle: how do contemporary states and international organisations negotiate and communicate with residents of ethnically different origin, elaborate and implement policies of minority protection, maintain and improve relations between group who perceive of themselves as having different, and at times conflicting, perennial identities? The focus of Centre's work is on the social and political origins of ethnic conflict, policy instruments of conflict prevention, post conflict reconciliation and peace building, and on comparative analyses of intergroup conflicts across the globe.