Strategic Initiatives

Promoting Peacemaking and Peacebuilding in Communities Experiencing Conflict

Peace remains elusive in nations and communities across the globe. In 2023, the Global Peace Index – a composite measure of peacefulness based on country-level indicators of the absence of violence or fear of violence – declined again continuing a 13-year trend. Six out of nine world regions experienced a decline in peacefulness as did 79 countries including the United States. Indeed, the U.S. ranking dropped from 129 to 131 out of 163 countries, a decline attributed in part to rising homicide rates and declining public perceptions about safety. Moreover, findings from the Armed Conflict Survey 2023 show how efforts to promote global peace are diminished by the increased intensity of armed conflicts associated with a 14% increase in fatalities and a 28% increase in the number of events over the previous year. By the end of the year, 91 countries were involved in internal or external conflicts worldwide. War, injustice, human rights violations, and genocide continue to dominate world headlines in 2024.

The College of Social Science invites proposals in two broad areas: (1) innovative approaches to the historical, ethical, legal, and/or philosophical issues that undergird our understanding of conflict, peacebuilding processes, and peacebuilding policies; or (2) the design and/or evaluation of novel interventions aimed at preventing conflict and promoting peacemaking and peacebuilding in communities experiencing conflict. Projects may focus on domestic or global contexts and should demonstrate an appreciation for and sensitivity to context, community and culture as well as consideration of situational dilemmas and challenges. These awards should ultimately result in the development and/or assessment of new research, scholarship and interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at mitigating conflict and building peace.

We anticipate funding 5-6 grant awards of up to $10,000 each. A combined match of $1,000 (or 10% if the budget if request is less than $10,000) is required from participating units/colleges.

 

Eligibility

This mini-grant competition is open to interdisciplinary teams comprised of:

• Full time tenured and tenure-track faculty with the Lead PI or one Co-PI of the team from the College of Social Science.

• Faculty with uninterrupted, multiyear, fixed term appointments with the Lead PI or one Co-PI of the team from the College of Social Science.

• Academic specialists in the continuing appointment systems who have majority of effort in the research category within the College of Social Science.

• Social Science researchers who have received College of Social Science funding in the past three years are not eligible (includes SPG, DFI, FIF, mini-grants or any other College research support).

 

Proposal Requirements

Upload using link on Application Form by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2024. Please compile and submit as a single PDF the following materials:

1. Upload completed application here: 2024 Peacemaking-Peacebuilding Mini Grant Application Form

2. Project narrative (5 page maximum); must clearly articulate methods, offer a concise statement of expected outcomes and clearly articulate how the proposed research and scholarly work will contribute to knowledge and practice relative to peacemaking and peacebuilding.

3. Proposed detailed budget (spreadsheet) and budget justification; see Social Science Promoting Peacemaking and Peacebuilding Budget

4. Unit letter(s) of support from the applicants’ dean(s) or department chair(s) committing to a sum total of $1,000 matching funds (or 10% of proposed budget if less than $10,000).

5. Current researcher biosketches or CVs.

6. Reference list for proposal narrative.

7. Other documents as applicable.

 

Review Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary panel using the attached evaluation rubric. Awardees will be notified by Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Instructions for accessing funds will be provided at the time of notification. Funds may be used for expenses related to the project as submitted, consistent with University Policy and Procedures, but may not be used for faculty salaries or conference travel. A brief narrative and financial report is required within 12 months of the award date describing outcomes and plans for follow-up research activities.

 

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Past Initiatives

• Social, Spatial, Economic, Behavioral and Cognitive Implications of Generative AI Technology

  Social, Spatial, Economic, Behavioral and Cognitive Implications of Generative AI Technology

  Technological advances in generative AI are expected to have a profound impact on the human experience, potentially changing workplaces, educational contexts, and even how people process information. Generative AI technologies also may change how scholars conduct their work and teach new generations. These technological changes may prove transformative at multiple levels ranging from societies to individual cognitive processes. Moreover, these technological changes may exacerbate existing disparities and create new ones.

  This Call for Proposals seeks to foster transdisciplinary collaborative research between social scientists and scholars from other disciplines to examine the social, spatial, economic behavioral or cognitive implications of generative AI technologies and their potential consequences for contemporary societies. We also encourage research proposals that examines the historical, ethical, legal and/or philosophical issues that undergird technological change emanating from the use or misuse of generative AI.

  We anticipate awarding up to five grant awards of up to $25,000 each with required 20% matching funds from participating units and/or colleges.

   

  Eligibility

  This SPG program is open to interdisciplinary teams comprised of:

  • Full time tenured and tenure-track faculty with at least one member of the team from the College of Social Science

  • Faculty with uninterrupted, multiyear, fixed term appointments with at least one member of the team from the College of Social Science

  • Academic specialists in the continuing appointment systems who have majority of effort in the research category within the College of Social Science

• At the Intersections of Problematic Policing, Racial Injustice and Safety in Communities of Color

  Ongoing acts of violence, including aggressive policing, and distrust of the police and the criminal justice system in minoritized communities in Michigan and beyond underscore the significant need for new interventions that seek to mitigate the underlying environmental, social and institutional contexts in order to promote safety. The College of Social Science invites applications for competitive interdisciplinary strategic partnership grant (SPG) proposals that focus on the design and/or evaluation of interventions aimed at curbing violence found at the intersections of policing, racial injustice, and safety in communities of color in Michigan. These awards should ultimately result in the development and/or assessment of promising new initiatives in key areas of research, scholarship and interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at eliminating problematic policing, fostering racial justice, and enhancing safety and well-being in communities of color.

  We anticipate awarding 5-6 grant awards of up to $25,000 each with required 20% matching funds from participating units and/or colleges.

   

  Eligibility

  This SPG program is open to interdisciplinary teams comprised of:

  • Full time tenured and tenure-track faculty with at least one member of the team from the College of Social Science

  • Faculty with uninterrupted, multiyear, fixed term appointments with at least one member of the team from the College of Social Science

  • Academic specialists in the continuing appointment systems who have majority of effort in the research category within the College of Social Science

   

  Proposal Requirements

  Upload using link on Application Form by 5:00 p.m. on October 31, 2022.  Please compile and submit as a single PDF the following materials:

  1. Completed application.

  2. Project narrative (2 page maximum); must clearly articulate methods, offer a concise statement of expected outcomes and clearly articulate how the proposed research and scholarly work will contribute to knowledge and practice at the intersections of policing, racial injustice and community safety in minoritized communities.

  3. Proposed detailed budget (spreadsheet) and budget justification

  4. Unit letter(s) of support from the applicants’ dean(s) or department chair(s) committing to a minimum of 20% ($5,000 total) matching funds.

  5. Current researcher biosketches or CVs.

  6. Reference list for proposal narrative.

  7. Other documents as applicable.

   

  Selection

  Awardees will be selected by an interdisciplinary review panel and will be notified by Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Instructions for accessing funds will be provided at the time of notification. Funds may be used for expenses related to the project as submitted, consistent with University Policy and Procedures, but may not be used for faculty salaries. A brief narrative and financial report is required within 12 months of the award date describing outcomes and plans for follow-up.

  REVIEW CRITERIA

 

Questions

Please contact SSC.Researchdean@msu.edu