The Decentralisation Program

for Peace and Democracy

 

 

 

 

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The Decentralisation Program for Peace and Democracy (DPD) is grounded in the principle that lasting peace and effective democracy require inclusive, and decentralised governance structures. It is especially pertinent in contexts shaped by ethnic or religious tensions. Informed by both historical and contemporary case studies, the program engages diverse stakeholders and draws on lessons from successful international experiences. Its aim is to promote decentralisation as a means of preventing conflict, ensuring a balanced distribution of power, and supporting long-term political stability.

 

Our work is organised through the following sections: 

Around the world, many internal conflicts emerge where diverse communities feel excluded, marginalised, or threatened by centralised state authority. When ethnic, religious, and political identities and aspirations are suppressed, mistrust deepens, grievances accumulate, and societies become vulnerable to repression and violence, often escalating into armed conflicts.

Comparative studies and policy analysis on decentralisation experiences; Switzerland, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and other cases

Webinars, workshops, and roundtables to bring stakeholders together.

War-torn Syria, home to diverse communities rooted in their historic regions and subjected to more than half a century of dictatorial rule, exhibits many of the defining characteristics of a failed state. Decentralisation is therefore urgently needed to restore stability, secure lasting peace, and lay the foundations for genuine democracy.