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About XCEPT

XCEPT seeks to better understand conflict-affected borderlands, how conflicts connect across borders, and the factors that shape violent and peaceful behaviour, to inform effective policy and programme responses.

Conflicts in the Middle East, Africa and Asia intersect through flows of people, weapons and resources, creating intricate cross-border conflict systems. These knit the formal and informal, licit and illicit in ways that empower armed actors, enmesh conflict with crime and violent extremism, and ensnare local communities. They make protracted conflicts even more difficult to resolve. International conflict response needs to innovate to meet the challenges of cross-border conflict. This includes transcending state-centric approaches to tackle the transnational networks that drive and sustain conflict and support communities coping with protracted crisis.

XCEPT melds mixed-methods research and field data collection with satellite data and open-source investigations  to deepen insight on hard-to-access areas. The programme includes the XCEPT Research Fund to enable responsive research on emerging conflicts and to build evidence on what works to stabilise, resolve and prevent conflict.

 

 

Our research

XCEPT consists of three research components with different constellations of research partners:

X-Border Local Research Network

What are the causes and implications of conflict in border areas? How can we develop local research skills to investigate these issues?

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

How do conflicts connect across borders through flows of people, weapons, and resources? How should policy responses adapt?

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

What behavioural factors drive violence and enable peace? What are the implications for recovery and conflict prevention?  

Our partners

XCEPT leadership

XCEPT Executive Director
Ruth Citrin
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Principal Investigator
Lina Khatib

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Programme Manager
Nathan Shea

The Asia Foundation

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Principal Investigator
Shiraz Maher

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Director
Maha Yahya

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Project Manager
Anna Rowett

Rift Valley Institute

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XCEPT Research Fund Director
Charlie de Rivaz
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Programme Director
Alex Ramsbotham

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Programme management

Project Manager
Beth Heron

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Manager
Felix Colchester

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Research Manager
Leah de Haan

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Senior Programme Officer
Tabea Campbell Pauli

The Asia Foundation

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Research team

Conciliation Resources
Abdullahi Umar Eggi

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

 

 

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Research Lead
Aden Abdi

Conciliation Resources

 

Transnational Conflict and Policy Responses

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Research Lead
Ahmed Nagi

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Lead
Ahmed Soliman

Chatham House

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Alexander Lee

Vigil Monitor

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Alice Jenner

Trias Consult Ltd

 

Transnational Conflict Dynamics and Policy Responses

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Researcher
Alison Brettle

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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Research Lead
Armenak Tokmajyan

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Lead
Azeema Cheema

Verso Consulting

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Research Associate
Azizul Hoque

Centre for Peace and Justice, Brac University

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Research Lead
Bader Al-Saif 

Carnegie Middle East Center

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Research Assistant
Caterina Ceccarelli

King’s College London

 

Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

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