THE PUZZLE OF INCLUDING A STRATEGIC SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL CONFLICT ANALYSIS
2022 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (One Year)), 20 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Sustainable development (SD) in conflict analysis is rarely considered, given that older theories mainly inform conflict analysis. This research set out to establish the potential influence of combining Strategic Sustainable Development (SSD) and conflict analysis. The current situation and possible influence were assessed through the primary data source, which constituted practitioners and researchers in international political conflict analysis. That was then compared to existing data on both conflict analysis and SSD. It was evident that some aspects of sustainability are already present in current conflict analysis tools but highlighted either social or ecological components. The complexity of conflict was clearly identified due to its cyclical nature and the different stakeholders involved. A need for an analysis tool combining complexity and a sustainability perspective was seen. It was argued that power dynamics in conflict analysis and the applicability of conflict analysis frameworks must be considered. Our findings indicate a place for SSD in conflict analysis, which translates into multiple application modes (e.g., root cause identification). There is a need for further research on how these two fields can complement each other and how to represent the interconnection into a practical conflict analysis tool.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2022.
Keywords [en]
sustainable development, Strategic Sustainable Development, Sustainability Principles, conflict analysis, complexity, systems thinking, transdisciplinary
National Category
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:bth-23389OAI: oai:DiVA.org:bth-23389DiVA, id: diva2:1679133
Subject / course
SL2538 Master's Thesis in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability
Educational program
SLASH Master programme in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability 60,0 hp
Supervisors
Examiners
2022-06-302022-06-302022-06-30Bibliographically approved