It has been common to separate prevention into two components: operational prevention, aimed at preventing violence that is imminent, and structural prevention, aimed at reducing or mitigating the underlying risks of violent conflict ahead of time. However, somewhat less progress has been made on structural prevention, largely because this important work upstream from atrocity crimes does not receive the world attention of the crimes themselves.

Also, the work of structural prevention is integrated with a range of additional program areas and processes, including governance and the rule of law, peacebuilding, and human rights. Despite the lack of attention and broader, more comprehensive program processes, the work of structural prevention is absolutely essential to truly preventing atrocity crimes.

This policy analysis brief of the Stanley Foundation, written by Alex Bellamy, attempts to synthesize the key conclusions from this work, and importantly, articulates ways to translate theories of structural prevention into practice.

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