In this editorial, my colleague Susan Appe and her co-author introduce a special issue on atrocity prevention https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/13876988.2026.2617924

Despite decades of pledges to prevent genocide and other mass atrocities, identitybased violence persists worldwide. This introductory article to the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis special issue, “Comparative Analysis of Policy and Practice for Atrocity Prevention”, argues that comparative policy analysis is underutilized yet can be essential for understanding and mitigating atrocity risk. By examining policies across diverse contexts and actors – state and non-state – the special issue illuminates how prevention approaches can mitigate atrocities before, during, and after conflict. The collection advances theory, empirical evidence, and policy recommendations to strengthen the practice of atrocity prevention globally.