How do civil wars reshape the fabric of societies, influence local governance, and alter the roles and relationships of individuals within communities? WarEffects explores these critical questions, focusing on the interconnected impacts of conflict on community cohesion, gender dynamics across households and communities, and local political landscapes.

WarEffects is funded by the European Research Council and led by Carlo Koos at the University of Bergen. The purpose of WarEffects is to investigate these transformations through novel methodologies. Using survey experiments, GIS mapping, archival research, and qualitative fieldwork in Colombia, DR Congo, and Sri Lanka, WarEffects provides fresh insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by post-conflict societies.

Our Focus

• Social cohesion: Exploring how conflict reshapes social bonds, trust, and cooperation in and across communities

• Gendered power relations: Investigating how civil wars redefine roles and relationships within households, communities, and the political sphere

• Local politics: Understanding how governance structures, representation, and participation evolve in the aftermath of conflict

WarEffects bridges research and real-world application, offering findings to inform peacebuilding efforts, governance reform, and policies that foster inclusive, cohesive, and resilient societies.

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