How do conflicts escalate? This is one of the major questions in conflict research. To offer further answers, Richard Bösch follows a tripartite agenda: First, he develops a constructivist methodology for the study of conflict escalation embedded in a Luhmannian systems theoretical world society perspective. Bösch argues that conflicts can be observed as social systems and he looks at the process of conflict escalation by analysing communication. Second, this analysis offers two case studies: the Maidan protests in Ukraine 2013-2014 and Mali's crisis 2010-2012. Third, it gives insights on how systems theoretical research can be beneficial for Peace and Conflict Studies.

Richard Bösch, born in 1982, works as an expert on peace education with the international catholic peace movement in the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. He received his doctorate at the Universität Augsburg. He is a member of the German Association of Peace and Conflict Studies. His research focuses on understanding violent conflicts as social systems and analysing conflict escalation as a communicative process.

Besprochen in: www.dart-europe.org, 11.12.2023