A critical approach to the study of conflicts. Lessons from the 'critical turn' in Security Studies.

Conflict, particularly, violent conflict, is both a security issue and a phenomenon whose deep complexity deserves to be analysed in itself. Conflict Studies and Security Studies are, in this sense, fields of research with very close topics of enquiry. Nevertheless, contacts between the two fields have been more sporadic than consistent. How and why this has been the case and where we currently stand in this relationship are the main questions this paper will try to answer. In order to do so, it is necessary to see, first, how both fields evolved within their own problematic spheres: Conflict Studies embedded in a complex dialogue with both Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies; Security Studies in a difficult relationship with Strategic Studies. Then, it is important to analyse the move from Strategic Studies to the affirmation of Security Studies and how Conflict Studies coped with this. Finally, the last part of this paper will argue that a rapprochement between the two fields could be beneficial for the understanding of contemporary conflicts. Namely, on how Conflict Studies could attempt to replicate the 'critical move' in Security Studies and thus develop a sounder theoretical basis for its research. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]