The Decentralisation Program

 for Peace and Democracy

 

 

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Decentralization Program

for Peace and Democracy

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برنامج اللامركزية

من اجل السلام والديمقراطية

 

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 The Decentralisation Program

 for Peace and Democracy

The Decentralisation Program for Peace and Democracy (DPD) is grounded in the principle that lasting peace and effective democracy are closely connected and mutually reinforcing. DPD explores how decentralised governance can strengthen both, particularly in societies shaped by ethnic or religious tensions. Drawing on historical and contemporary case studies, the program engages diverse stakeholders and examines international experiences to identify approaches through which decentralisation can support greater political inclusion and a more balanced distribution of power. The aim of DPD is to promote decentralisation as a means of preventing conflict, fostering sustainable peace and political stability, and supporting the development of more inclusive democratic governance.

 

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.