Accessible Online: New Database for Political Conflicts

The Institute for Political Science of Heidelberg University and the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK) have jointly released a new database compiling information on both violent and nonviolent conflicts. The researchers have collected data on conflicts between states, between non-state actors and between governments and rebel groups. After several years of preparatory work, the resultant 'Disaggregated Conflict Dataset' (DISCON) has been online since mid-February. According to Dr. Christoph Trinn from the Institute for Political Science, DISCON is based on a broad-based, integrative approach to data collection, drawing on news sources and academic analyses. Quantitative conflict research therefore now provides a broader source of data than has been usual so far, he explains. 'The dataset gives a reliable picture of contemporary conflict situations. It opens up new possibilities for explaining existing conflicts and for early warning,' Dr. Trinn adds.