Understanding the impact of external conflict on UK communities

Discussion with a range of community organisations and local authority officials has highlighted a general gap in research and analysis into the underlying causes and drivers of tension and conflict in the culturally diverse communities targeted by Alert’s UK programme. Alert plans to work with partners to deepen this research and analysis capacity, beginning with an exploration of the impacts of external conflict on UK communities – in particular in Bristol, London, Burnley and Bradford with a focus on links with Somali, Sri Lankan and Pakistani diaspora communities.

Many communities have populations with strong ties to countries of heritage which are affected by violent conflict, such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Somalia. These external conflict dynamics are echoed in the UK through diaspora groups, influencing community attitudes and behaviours and also UK government policies. UK foreign policy, particularly towards Afghanistan and Iraq, in turn influences attitudes towards immigrant and diaspora groups.

Taking Bristol, London, Burnley and Bradford as key locations, with an emphasis on communities with links to Somalia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the research aims to shine a light on the links between UK conflict dynamics and external conflicts with a view to establishing some general trends and their implications for practitioners and policy -makers alike.

Research is conducted by International Alert in conjunction with four partner organisations - Conflict & Change based in Newham, Community Accord based in Bradford, The Centre for Good Relations in Burnley and Community Resolve based in Bristol. The University of West England provides academic rigour and oversight. As research progresses, Alert will convene meetings with external policy makers to get their perspectives and their responses to the emerging findings. Research will be completed in 2011 with a final report published in 2012.

This project is conducted alongside the South Asia Programme’s Diaspora work which it both draws from and informs.