Prevailing wisdom suggests that a strong state security service, including a well-resourced and well-trained army and police force, mitigates cyclical violence and aids in the transition from relative anarchy to predictable, rule governed behavior. Yet, despite vast sums invested to secure the state’s monopoly on violence, reform efforts frequently fail to guard against challenges to state authority. Capacity-building reforms are typically unable to reconfigure information asymmetries.

Reuters Institute / Nuffield College Media & Politics seminars
The following seminars will be given at 5pm on Fridays, normally in the Butler Room, Nuffield College.
Convenors: Meera Selva, David Levy, Andrew Dilnot

Reuters Institute seminars “The business and practice of journalism”
The following seminars will be given at 2pm on Wednesdays, normally in the E.P. Abraham Lecture Theatre, Green Templeton College.
Convenor: Meera Selva

Violence Studies Oxford is bringing together scholars whose research concerns violence and its aftermath. Post-conflict reconciliation and transitional justice will be discussed and compared for the case studies of Malaya, Cyprus, Kenya and Northern Ireland.