In the study of conflict resolution, data matters. Whether analysing the trajectory of armed violence, assessing early warning signs of mass atrocities, or evaluating peacebuilding outcomes, empirical data provides the scaffolding for informed analysis, policy recommendations, and ethical decision-making. For students, accessing and interpreting this information is a crucial skill that bridges the gap between academic learning and applied analysis.

This article introduces a curated set of conflict data platforms, listed in alphabetical order, that I shared with my students in the 2^nd-year undergraduate unit Conflict Resolution [POL20011] at Swinburne Online. I curated this list as a useful resource for students to interrogate a series of conflict case studies in their assignments, class discussions, and independent research. Each of these resources brings a different lens to analysing the origins and drivers of conflict, and all are freely available online.

Each of these resources offers more than just data points, they are interpretive tools for thinking critically about how we understand, document, and respond to conflict. As future peacebuilders, analysts, or policymakers, developing data literacy is essential to your skillset. Data never speaks for itself; it must be questioned, contextualised, and interpreted. As you explore these resources, use them to develop your analytical rigour, empirical grounding, and theoretical insight.

When using these datasets:

• Be explicit about your source and its limitations.
• Be critical of what is included and what is left out.
• Connect the data to theory, ethics, and real-world decision-making.
• Use data to support, not replace, your argument.
• Cross-check and triangulate information from multiple sources.
• Always relate empirical evidence back to the broader conflict resolution frameworks introduced in class.

With these tools, you are well-equipped to critically examine the causes, dynamics, and resolutions of contemporary conflict. Whether you’re analysing a civil war, assessing early warning systems, or mapping peacebuilding efforts, these tools can ground your work in rigorous empirical evidence.

Questions to think about:

• How does disaggregated conflict data like ACLED’s help us understand local variations within a national conflict?
• What challenges might arise in verifying data in conflict zones, especially where media freedom is limited?
• How might ACLED data inform strategies for early intervention or peacebuilding?

Questions to think about:

• How effective can an early warning system be in preventing atrocities?
• Who has the responsibility and capacity to act when early warning signs are identified?
• Can you identify any cases where timely intervention could have prevented large-scale violence?

Questions to think about:

• What are the core ethics underpinning the Responsibility to Protect (R2P)?
• Has R2P been applied (or misapplied, or not applied) appropriately across cases of humanitarian catastrophe and systemic human rights abuse?
• How do political dynamics within the Security Council affect whether R2P is referenced or acted upon?

Questions to think about:

• Which indicators used in the GPI do you think are the most meaningful in measuring peace?
• How does the GPI differentiate between the absence of conflict and the presence of positive peace?
• What might a sudden change in a country’s GPI ranking suggest about internal or external dynamics?

Questions to think about:

• How does the framing of a conflict on CrisisWatch shape our perception of its urgency and scale?
• What role do regional and non-state actors play in the escalation or resolution of the conflicts tracked?
• How might you use this platform to identify a viable case study for your assessment tasks?

Questions to think about:

• How does power asymmetry between states contribute to conflict risk?
• Which of the Index’s eight power indicators best explains current tensions in Asia?
• How might different IR theories interpret the significance of regional power shifts reflected in the Index?

Questions to think about:

• What patterns do you notice in the types of actors involved in peace agreements?
• How does the inclusion or exclusion of certain groups (e.g. women, civil society) affect implementation outcomes?
• How can peace agreements be used as data to evaluate long-term peacebuilding?

Questions to think about:

• How does humanitarian reporting shape international responses to conflict and displacement?
• What are the advantages and limitations of using real-time data and grey literature for academic research?
• How can ReliefWeb be used to track the escalation or de-escalation of a specific conflict zone over time?

Questions to think about:

• How do arms flows influence the outbreak, duration, or resolution of conflicts?
• What insights can be drawn from trends in military spending?
• How might SIPRI’s data be used to assess compliance with international treaties?

UN Security Council: https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en

One of the most important international bodies in global conflict resolution is the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, as articulated under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The Council has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. The UNSC takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and calls upon the parties to disputes to settle it by peaceful means and/or recommends terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or authorise the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

Peacekeeping missions: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en

The UN’s peacekeeping website provides detailed information on current missions, including mandate scope, troop contributors, and operational challenges. As of this year, Australia has joined the Peacebuilding Commission and contributes to the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

Peacebuilding Commission: https://www.un.org/peacebuilding/content/home

The Peacebuilding Commission focuses on addressing structural root causes of conflict and supporting institutions for lasting peace.

Use these resources to explore institutional peacebuilding frameworks and multilateral conflict management in practice.

Questions to think about:

• What distinguishes peacekeeping from peacebuilding, and how are the two linked?
• How might the presence of UN missions affect local ownership of peace processes?
• What metrics should we use to assess the success of a peacekeeping mission?

Questions to think about:

• How does UCDP’s definition of conflict shape the scope of its data collection?
• Why is it important to distinguish between different types of organised violence?
• How could UCDP data be used to analyse conflict trends over time in a chosen region?