Uncovered: Identity-Based Mass Violence in Urban Contexts

A rooftop lambe-lambe installation by Alberto Pereira in Rio de Janeiro, in a neighborhood with one of the highest rates of violence in the city. (Photo by Thiago Maurílio)

Identity-Based Mass Violence in Urban Contexts: Uncovered is a groundbreaking investigation into the concept of identity-based mass violence. The volume weaves together scholarship and policy pieces from the disciplines of atrocity prevention, peacebuilding, and urban violence reduction, with contributions from artists, journalists, activists and those who have lived experience.

This work was designed to reach your mind and your heart. You will encounter impactful stories supported by rigorous research. You will be welcomed into fields of practice adjacent to your own, asked to consider how those who are dedicated to strengthening peace and reducing violence can honor the deep well of knowledge and strength of communities and collectively push back against the forces that aim to tear them apart.

The editors and contributors to this volume appreciate the enormous work already being done; valuing and celebrating the time, effort and heartache of those seeking to create more peaceful cities. Acknowledging that the current status quo is not sufficient, this volume highlights examples and opportunities to inspire actors both within and outside of cities on tangible action that can be taken to understand and address structural and acute identity-based mass violence.

Identity-Based Mass Violence in Urban Contexts: Uncovered will be published in the second half of 2025. The edited volume will be available online in open access and for sale in print. Nearing publication, this website will be updated with multimedia resources about the identity-based mass violence framework and further insights into the unique collaborative approach of this edited volume project.

Former Mayor

"In a troubled world, UNCOVERED offers a compelling analysis of violence along identity lines in cities and provides a critical understanding of where these come together with power and place to sustain violence. . . This book is an essential resource for anyone who is committed to seeing past stereotypes and understanding that efforts beyond black and white are urgently needed for building safety, belonging, and resilience in cities worldwide."

Óscar Escobar - Palmira, Colombia
Managing Director

"Of course, this is a false divide, as this vibrant and compelling volume makes clear. The authors of this book highlight the links between structural, acute and mass violence in clear and elegant terms, describing how cities hold the potential for violence in both particular and also universal forms . . . This is a deeply important contribution to the peacebuilding literature, during a turbulent time for cities — and the world."

Melanie Greenberg - Programs, Humanity United
Commissioner

"UNCOVERED delivers a powerful wake-up call for everyone committed to violence reduction . . . If we're serious about building peace in the 21st century, decision-makers, practitioners, and citizens must start by confronting the quiet brutality embedded in our cities. For anyone working at the intersection of urban safety, human rights, and development, this volume is not just relevant—it’s indispensable."

Dr. Robert Muggah - Lancet Commission on Global Gun Violence and Health
Founder and Executive Director

"Identity-Based Mass Violence in Urban Contexts: UNCOVERED is a timely and essential contribution to the fields of violence prevention and peacebuilding . . . Its focus on the intersections of identity, power, and place challenges conventional frameworks and points toward deeply contextual, community-driven strategies for prevention."

Vasu Gounden - ACCORD
Executive Director

"Marrying theory with practice, personal with policy, domestic with global, UNCOVERED offers innovative ideas and solutions through the lenses of identity, cities, and mass violence. Centering identity and lived experience makes this work relatable to all of us, as does the weaving in of art and storytelling. What a breath of fresh air!"

Alexandra Toma - Peace and Security Funders Group
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

"As someone who has spent decades working on violence reduction and community-led development, I find UNCOVERED to be a vital guide for those seeking to address violence not just as isolated incidents, but as symptoms of deeper structural issues. The volume’s emphasis on inclusive, grassroots solutions and city-based leadership makes it both practical and visionary."

Enrique Roig - US State Department