The Violence, Inequality and Power Lab

“Divides are growing deeper. Inequalities are growing wider. Challenges are spreading farther. We have a duty to act.”

UNSG António Guterres, September 2022

We’re told that violence is inevitable. That it’s human nature. We’re told to blame a convenient scapegoat for the latest social or economic problems, rather than examine the power imbalances and systems that got us here. People and institutions shape the language of violence and so shape the narratives that reinforce structures of violence, all too often justifying force against certain people or places. This vicious cycle feeds upon itself, left unchecked it metastasizes leading to a rise in violence, in fear baiting, in authoritarianism. This is the moment we are in. A fundamental shift is required.

The Violence, Inequality and Power (VIP) Lab aims to meet this moment by fostering collaborations that question the status quo, that use bridging language, and that expand access to nuanced knowledge and discussion. The VIP Lab will deliver practical, actionable ideas that partners can implement at the systems level to confront harmful power inequalities and reduce violence. Engaging evidence with determination, we will interrogate effective practice to build peace with justice, straightforwardly acknowledging the power imbalances that impede progress, with a focus on cities, at borders, in sites of emerging political violence and active conflict zones. Our work aims to shift power-reinforcing, securitized approaches through disseminating evidence-informed practice that is balanced, inclusive and based upon a vision of justice for all.