From Pixels to Peace - The Role of Visual Communication in Conflict Transformation

Existing research incorporating images frequently relies on binary categories of conflict/war versus peace, which, at times, struggle to capture the complexities of our contemporary security landscape, where traditional war-to-peace transitions are increasingly challenged. We argue that in today’s visually saturated communication environments, suitable visual communication of peace can play a crucial role in conflict transformation. Our project, therefore, addresses the notable research gap regarding the role of images in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

To address this gap, our interdisciplinary project combines theoretically and empirically relevant peace concepts with current findings and methodologies in visual communication research. By doing so and incorporating the theoretical frameworks of “everyday peace” and the “local turn” in peacebuilding, we seek to identify and propose visual peace communication that is suitable for conflict transformation in “no war – no peace” situations, focusing on the case of Colombia. We will expand the theoretical concept of “everyday peace” by a visual component, provide in-depth empirical findings about visual peace communication in this context, and offer policy suggestions for peacebuilding actors on creating and using suitable images of peace in future peacebuilding processes. Further information can be found on https://www.pixels2peace.com/