Knowledge-policy transfer in peace research: role of knowledge production

Abstract

Peace Research has long been criticized for the gap between the theory and practice of peace. This paper focuses on the role of knowledge production in peace research on knowledge-policy transfer. Delving into the mechanics of synergies developed between the academics and practitioners, the paper inquires how the multiparty interplay among the academia, practitioners and hybrid institutions acting as both research and practice-oriented bodies contributes to the knowledge production in Peace Studies. As related, the study examines following questions: How are the expectations of donors from the researchers and research institutions shaped? Do peace researchers tailor their research output in a specific manner that is expected by the donors to guarantee the flow of funding? And last but not least, how is the “knowledge” produced in the research integrated to the practice by the practitioners, local actors and facilitators? The paper relies on a field research conducted in Switzerland in 2019 and data collected through interviews with the representatives of certain peace research institutes, academics and donor institutions in Switzerland. Findings suggest that there is a general tendency among peace researchers to distinguish between the knowledge they produce for their academic agenda from the “handy” knowledge for the donor institutions.