Beyond Conflict

Beyond Conflict (BC) has created powerful and innovative frameworks to open pathways for progress in peace talks, transitions to democracy, and national reconciliation in the aftermath of division and violence in over 75 countries. By leveraging our global network of leaders, activists, and other seasoned practitioners, we’ve catalyzed the field of transitional justice, facilitated the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in post-apartheid South Africa, and charted a course towards peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, Central America, Cuba and other divided societies grappling with difficult social challenges.

Founded in 1992, our powerful methodology of shared experience is grounded in two core principles: that people can learn from each other, and that people can change, and accumulated evidence from brain science supports these principles. This simple yet powerful belief in the human capacity for change and renewal is matched by rigorous research and the constant quest to improve human understanding and progress in positive and tangible ways. Through this journey, we engaged with leading brain and behavioral scientists and discovered the potential of brain science to powerfully and radically shift the way in which we understand human conflict and coexistence, and the very nature by which we think, act and respond to our world. 

Beyond Conflict has also found that the combined knowledge of emerging research within science matched to our direct real-world experience offers a powerful and new approach that has the potential to revolutionize the very fields of conflict resolution, reconciliation and social change, both in the US and abroad. Beyond Conflict has become widely acknowledged as the champion in catalyzing the field of Neuroscience and Social Conflict, by promoting this research, developing policy recommendations for national leaders, and convening six global conferences since 2010 for key scientists, policymakers, practitioners, journalists and funders. 

Building on this momentum, and our early success in developing key metrics with targeted groups on dehumanization, polarization, and inclusion, we launched the Beyond Conflict Innovation Lab for Neuroscience and Social Conflict, which conducts original research, applies existing scientific insights and tests new interventions on issues relating to racism and exclusion, polarization, and displaced refugees and migrants. The Innovation Lab brings a new framework at the intersection of behavioral science and real-world experience, and applies brain science to design and promote practical new tools that reduce conflict, increase tolerance, and facilitate positive social change.