About Us
The Centre was established by Professor Adrian Guelke within the School of Politics and International Studies in January 1998 to promote research on societies that are or have been deeply divided in terms of their ethnic and national identities.
Nearly all states around the globe accommodate culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse societies, and as such, they face increasing pressures to grant sufficient degree of recognition to ethnic, linguistic, religious, and other communities self-identifying themselves as being culturally different. Although there is no universally applicable policy blueprint for accommodating cultural diversity, the effectiveness with which states manage and respond to the claims of different minority groups is an important predictor of peace and stability within ethnically diverse societies.
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The Centre brings together staff of the School of Politics, International Studies and Philosophy 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 research 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 is reflected in teaching offered at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Research
Located in the capital of Northern Ireland, Queen's University Belfast provides an especially appropriate setting for the study of the problems that a deep division in society gives rise to, even in the conditions of relative peace. The Centre hosts public lectures, seminars, workshops and conferences in its field, including colloquia of the International Political Science Association's research committee on politics and ethnicity. All of our events and workshops, highlight critical moments in the life of Northern Ireland, UK, European Union and regularly address questions of ethnic stability and conflict in transforming national and international environments.
Events