‘Conflicts today are very complex and it is therefore necessary to improve the critical skills of personnel working in crisis situations so that they can access the necessary conceptual frameworks and analytical tools to respond and to develop integrated approaches to conflict prevention. Personnel also need to be able to effectively analyse conflict dynamics and to identify and assess realistic responses’.With these words, the course director, Dr Kieran Doyle, concluded the course ‘From conflict analysis to integrated action: generating strategies for intervention’ on 31 March 2023. The course was co-organised by Edward M Kennedy Institute/Maynooth University, with active participation by the course members and excellent outcomes. The 17 participants examined critical issues related to crisis management, civil-military cooperation when analysing root causes of conflicts, the importance of gender dynamics and the strong intersection of conflict resolution and trauma. The course focused on culture, values and identity in conflict situations, as well as on the importance of international crisis management at strategic level in responding to complex challenges in fragile states. The 17 participants had the chance to work together and to complete an exercise that aimed at building a common understanding of the complex strategic considerations in contemporary conflicts and provided them with tools they are likely to use in their current or future work environments.
The course also aimed to increase awareness of the nature of fragile and failed states in areas spanning governance, economy, society and security. Course participants had a great opportunity to gain practice in collaborating with each other in a civil-military environment while receiving top-flight briefings, guidance and support from high-level professionals.
The course was a much appreciated learning experience for participants, and we take this opportunity to thank all guest speakers, participants, and last but not least the Kennedy Institute and the course director, Dr Kieran Doyle, for organising this training. Through activities of this kind, we are continuing to build trust and networking between participants and institutions.
