The Conflict Research Group (CRG) is a multidisciplinary research unit at the Department of Conflict and Development Studies, Ghent University (Faculty of Political and Social Sciences). We study the micro-level dynamics of civil conflict and political violence. CRG was founded in 2002 with the intention of providing grounded analyses of the local dynamics of civil conflicts as they unfold. To that end, we conduct long-term field research drawing mostly on qualitative research methods.

Our research is structured around four main clusters: Interventions, Contested Resources, Armed Politics and Conflict and Space. Geographically, we focus predominantly on Africa, in particular the Great Lakes Region, and on Central, South and Southeast Asia.

CRG co-organizes a one-year Master Programme in Conflict and Development Studies, which focuses on the theoretical and policy-related dimensions of processes of conflict and development. CRG staff also provides numerous courses in other Bachelor and Master programmes.