The research area Forms aims at systematically consolidating fragmented findings on the historical and contemporary change of political violence.
On the one hand, it explores the question of how political violence has changed, using the example of (internationalized) civil wars. On the other hand, it examines the role of global trends such as technological or environmental change. Since 2026, a key focus has been on researching violence against social activists.
The most relevant publications from research area Forms are compiled on the “Highlights” publications page.
The current research focus on Violence against Social Activists investigates diverse contexts and types of repression, focusing on both local and transnational dimensions of violence. Key areas include digital violence against activists, targeted violence against human rights and land defenders, Indigenous communities, and social justice activists in the Global South. Researchers examine violence in the context of struggles over civil disobedience in eco-protests in the Global North. They also explore the increasing repression of protests, the shaping of surveillance and violence by advances in digital technology, the influence of global autocratization, and shrinking civic spaces. Additionally, they address how activists resist repression and how these local acts of repression are embedded in broader global trends.
The work package Findings on the Forms, Causes and Consequences of Political Violence focuses on the internationalization of internal armed conflicts as a particularly significant transformation of political violence. The researchers aim to refine the conceptual understanding of this phenomenon by analyzing key patterns and explanations and conducting in-depth studies on military interventions, proxy-wars, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. Additionally, researchers examine related changes in armed violence, such as the increasing blurring of boundaries between state and non-state actors.
The work package New Forms of Political Violence and Technological Change explores how technological and environmental changes lead to new forms of political violence and alter existing patterns of violence. It focuses on how activists, refugees, and peace actors use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in conflict contexts while generating new risks, such as digital violence and intimidation, and increasing the demand for data protection and security. The researchers also analyze how environmental conflicts, protests, and rising energy and resource demands – particularly in connection with critical technology materials – contribute to new forms of violence and repression against activists, as well as geopolitical tensions.