Complexity Thinking for Peacebuilding Practice and Evaluation

Coning, Cedric De; Brusset, Emery; Hughes, Bryn

doi:10.1057/978-1-137-60111-7

Cited by 38 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In order to analyze how the international system of states, multilateral organizations like the United Nations, and institutions like peacekeeping respond and adapt to change, I will employ a number of insights from complexity theory (de Coning, 2020b;Hunt, 2020). Complexity theory provides us with a theoretical framework for analyzing how complex systems, like societies, organizations, and institutions, function under stress, including how they react to turbulence and disruptions in their environment (Brusset et al, 2016;Kavalski, 2015). Complexity theory helps us understand how social systems respond to external stimuli, and how their resilience and adaptive capacity influence the likelihood that they will maintain functioning despite significant changes in their operating environment (Folke, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The future of UN peace operations: Principled adaptation through phases of contraction, moderation, and renewal

Coning

2021

Contemporary Security Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article considers the future of UN peace operations through a complexity theory lens. In the short-term peacekeeping will have to adapt to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fallout of the Trump presidency. In the medium-term peacekeeping will go through a phase of uncertainty and turbulence due to geopolitical power shifts in the global order. In the longer-term peacekeeping will have to adapt to a new multipolar global order characterized by coexistence, and a changing security landscape shaped by, among others, climate change, urbanization, and new technologies. Throughout these contraction, moderation, and adjustment phases, UN peacekeeping is likely to be guided by a principled adaptive approach, that allows it to adapt to the realities of the moment whilst staying true to its core form and identity. As a result, UN peacekeeping is likely to remain one of the most visible symbols of global governance and international cooperation.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The future of UN peace operations: Principled adaptation through phases of contraction, moderation, and renewal

Coning

2021

Contemporary Security Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The efforts of others are more in reaction to a developing awareness of the limitations of foundationalism, particularly those concerned with addressing applied problems where the need to produce useable results is paramount. Scholars and practitioners in areas such as development (Ramalingam, 2013;Boulton et al, 2015;Burns and Worsley, 2015), business (Richardson, 2008), peacebuilding (Brusset et al, 2016), education (Martin et al, 2019), and healthcare (Cristancho, 2016;Braithwaite et al, 2017Braithwaite et al, , 2018Greenhalgh and Papoutsi, 2018;Khan et al, 2018;Long et al, 2018) have embraced complexity thinking as a way forward due to its emphasis on concepts like non-linearity, emergent properties, uncertainty, and unpredictability, which seem to better describe the applied contexts they study. While those in this latter group utilize the systems language of complexity science, they often do not directly comment on issues of ontology or epistemology.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovations in Addressing Mental Health Needs in Humanitarian Settings: A Complexity Informed Action Research Case Study

Parrish-Sprowl

Alajlouni

2020

Front. Commun.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Addressing mental health challenges in humanitarian settings, where needs are many and resources are scarce, requires innovative solutions. In this manuscript, we describe a quantum complexity informed intervention, Communication for Whole Health (CWH), developed at the request of a large Jordanian healthcare NGO to address mental health needs of patients and staff. In the humanitarian aid context, this health domain is referred to by the acronym MHPSS (mental health and psychosocial support). The focus of this participatory action research project, presented here as a case study, was the collaborative elaboration of an MHPSS intervention in an urban primary healthcare clinic serving mostly Syrian refugees. The intervention capitalizes on the synergistic effects generated from the systemic nature of communication where every interaction is an intervention, and the health implications of research demonstrating communication is bioactive. Rather than treating mental health as an add-on medical specialty targeting patients with “psychiatric disorders,” systemic MHPSS starts from the premise that everyone has mental health, which is inextricably linked to physical and social health. Emphasis is on integrating awareness of mental health as part of whole health and taking advantage of every interaction to facilitate well-being for patients and staff. The intervention facilitated the transformation of the communication ecology of the clinic from a culture of reactivity to a culture of receptivity by strengthening communication resources and practices. Staff reported feeling more empowered to help patients and displayed increased motivation to find innovative ways to use available resources. They felt better equipped to manage their own stress response and support coworkers. Patients learned basic stress management skills, helping them better manage chronic health conditions, and reported sharing this information with family members. Staff reported many examples of patients responding positively to interventions to reduce patient reactivity, leading to beneficial behavior change and improved health outcomes. Results suggest a systemic MHPSS approach can contribute to ameliorating health inequities by expanding resources for patients and staff, empowering them to act into their current circumstances to support whole health. The CWH approach has potential in similar contexts to address mental health needs in a cost-effective and impactful way.

show abstract

“…For a description of agency in complex systems, seeBrusset et al (2017).2 Examples drawn fromMeadows (1999).3 For an application of systemic thinking to inter-ethnic disputes, seeSplinter and Wustehube (2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

States of disorder: An ecosystems approach to state-building in conflict-affected countries

Day¹

2022

WIDER Working Paper

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Complexity Thinking for Peacebuilding Practice and Evaluation

Cited by 38 publications

References 0 publications

The future of UN peace operations: Principled adaptation through phases of contraction, moderation, and renewal

The future of UN peace operations: Principled adaptation through phases of contraction, moderation, and renewal

Innovations in Addressing Mental Health Needs in Humanitarian Settings: A Complexity Informed Action Research Case Study

States of disorder: An ecosystems approach to state-building in conflict-affected countries

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About