Steven Zyck
Steven Zyck is a Research Fellow in the University’s Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU). His research focuses on the impact of international interventions on the legitimacy of governing institutions in fragile, conflict-affected contexts. He is developing metrics for state building, security sector transitions, and the influence of research upon policy. He came to York after working for international organisations in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the Pacific Islands.
Rebuilding Communities after conflict
The Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit (PRDU) at York is an international centre of excellence for the study of war-torn societies and their recovery. Despite the proliferation of research centres addressing governance, and development, the PRDU, founded in 1992, is the first and most successful in linking theory and practice through postgraduate programmes, research, publications, and engagement with key stakeholders in the international community.
Recent research includes the British government’s first Strategic Conflict Assessment of Afghanistan and an in-depth study of reconstruction in Southern Lebanon. These build on staff members’ regular fieldwork in conflict-affected environments. In 2009, PRDU staff members launched research initiatives related to governance, state building, community-driven development, security sector reform, human security, economic growth, aid financing, conflict management and stabilisation in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Nepal, and the Philippines.
Worldwide influence
At the core of the PRDU’s work remains its flagship MA and PhD courses in Post-war Recovery Studies. These remain the only degree programmes in the world which focus on the challenges of post-conflict environments. Alumni include several cabinet ministers in the Government of Afghanistan and Southern Sudan, in addition to numerous high-ranking officials in the United Nations and other international organisations. Since 2006, the PRDU has hosted the 12-week annual Chevening Senior Fellowship Programme on Conflict Resolution, and from 2010, it will run a second Chevening course on ‘Reforming the Security and Justice Sectors in Post-Conflict Countries’.
In 2008, PRDU launched the HRH El Hassan bin Talal Annual Lecture, with His Royal Highness as the inaugural speaker. Beyond York, PRDU collaborates with UK governmental agencies, think tanks, international organisations and others, including the Department for International Development,
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Council, the Overseas Development Institute, the World Bank,
United Nations agencies and the European Commission.
PRDU emphasises partnerships with government agencies in fragile environments and has done extensive work for the Afghan, Ugandan, Egyptian, and Lebanese governments. Through such affiliations, PRDU is able to promote the influence of rigorous research on policy making and
field-based practices in pursuit of peace, stability and poverty alleviation.
More Information
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Post-war Reconstruction and Development Unit
