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International Barriers, Instability and Obstructing Local Research

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Local Researchers and International Practitioners

Part of the book series: Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies ((RCS))

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Abstract

This chapter advances understanding of the complex relationship between Kosovo’s local researchers and international policy-makers working on the frontline of SSR design and implementation. It explores the structural disadvantages that local researchers face in their mission to push local expertise into the international SSR agenda. The chapter asks what international structures and organisational procedures impact on practitioner-researcher engagements. Processes such as recruitment and staff turnover, or the political nature of international objectives, combined with the busy day-to-day of policy and programmes work, means that there is little direction, incentive and time for practitioners to seek out and engage with local researchers, let alone appreciate and understand local contextual insights. At the same time, Kosovo’s local research community has emerged in a complex post-conflict context, bringing a range of practical and political constraints.

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Correspondence to Jacob Phillipps .

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Phillipps, J. (2022). International Barriers, Instability and Obstructing Local Research. In: Local Researchers and International Practitioners . Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-82661-1_5

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