- Environment and Climate Change Challenges in the SADC Region and their effect on the Security dimension
- Fragility of Africa’s Security Architecture;
- Information Technology and Peace and Conflict in Africa
- Maritime Piracy in the West Indian and Atlantic Oceansram
- Sustainable Human Development
- Strategic Vision of Zambia’s socio-economic and political environment
- Threats to Nationhood (Focus on Zambia; with possible extension to Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Kenya; and youth and Conflict Theory
The academic and policy research focus of the Dag Hammarskjöld Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies is reflected by the graduate programme’s areas of specialization, human rights, governance and peacebuilding, human security and development; environment; sustainable development and peace; defense and security management; and diplomacy and strategic studies. It is also influenced by Dag Hammarskjöld’s own work environment and deeds; making peacekeeping, diplomacy and the general international relations discourse, the major dimensions of the Institute’s research interest. The Institute has been working on the African Union’s Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development and strategy development.
The Dag Hammarskjöld Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies also disseminates information designed to mitigate conflict and enhance peaceful co-existence within and between communities and states. The Institute’s other responsibilities include outreach programmes in the themes mentioned above. In this regard the outreach programmes, target institutions, organizations and settlements within Zambia, with the objective of contributing to the enhancement of peace education. The subjects include women and the youth in peace building; democratic governance; and the promotion of peace and nonviolent transformation and resolution of conflicts education, especially to Zambians living in areas bordering refugee camps. The following are among the research projects being developed:
From the initial deliverables of monograph (Civil-Military Relations in Zambia) and the conference (‘From Dag Hammarskjöld to Date: The Genesis and Evolution of the Democratic Republic of Congo Conflict’) proceedings published in 2004 and 2005 respectively, the Institute as part of its general peace education, remains committed to holding Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture Series. Soon the Kenneth David Kaunda and Sustainable Human Development Lecture Series will be developed and commissioned.
On the other hand, in fulfilling Component 1, of the Dag Hammarskjöld Living Memorial Initiative (DHLMI), the Institute has continued to pioneer and pull together scholarly platforms on various topics, notable among these are:
- Presentations on Challenges of Preparing for and undertaking Peace Support Operations in Africa with expert input from the British High Commission; UN Africa Mission-Hybrid Operations in Darfur, Ethiopia; and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
- Lecture on Dag Hammarskjöld’s briefcase in Ndola: A Peace Challenge for our time by His Grace, K.G. Hammar – Former Archbishop of the Church of Sweden
- Presentations on Contemporary Threats to African Security by experts from the Royal Navy UK Defence Concept and Development Centre; African Centre for Migration and Society; Regional Climate Change Programme-Southern Africa; and Brenthurst Foundation;
- Lecture on China-Zambia Relations for Economic Relations by His Excellency Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Mr. Zhou Yuxiao,
- Presentation on the Coverage of Peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the New York Times, by Professor Virgil Hawkins,
- Seminar on the UK’s Perspectives on Global Strategic Trends; Threats to Economic growth and stability in Africa; Climate Change Flashpoints; The Effects of Transnational Crime in particular Piracy and Narcotic on African Security with expert input from UK Defence Concept and Development Centre; Brenthurst Foundation; and Global Crisis Solutions.