Conflict and Polarization Initiative

Police lining up — *Police in Delhi, India during a protest | Photo credit: Rohit Bhakar, 2021*

Political risks, conflicts, and violence hinder efforts to boost global prosperity, alleviate poverty, and safeguard the environment. At the same time, political polarization – a key driver of these threats – is increasing worldwide. In developing nations, these challenges are especially pronounced in marginalized communities.

In 2019, the King Center’s Conflict and Polarization initiative was created to bring together Stanford scholars in fields ranging from political science and economics to social psychology and finance. Using a multidisciplinary approach, these scholars are testing new ideas for reducing violent conflict and political polarization. The team’s research is exploring links between polarization and mandated military service and how financial tools can help to foster peace, among other topics.

The initiative has several regional and local partnerships, including with universities in Europe, Israel, and Mexico; the National Governors Association in the United States; and the United Kingdom. In a collaboration with the European University Institute, the initiative has developed a curriculum for training EU diplomats and NGO leaders on strategies for reducing conflict.