The regionalization of intra-state conflicts is a widespread and troubling phenomenon, with neighbouring states playing military roles that effectively make them parties to the conflict. These dynamics make the conflicts more protracted and intractable, create a more complex and difficult political environment for mediation, and reduce the prospects for mediated conflict resolution.
This seminar will present the results of a research project on international mediation in intra-state conflicts that have significant regional conflict dimensions. The project is based on case studies that cover peace processes in Afghanistan (2018-21); Central America (1986-1990); Democratic Republic of Congo (1998-2003); the 1991 Madrid Conference on the Israel-Palestine conflict; the Minsk process on the Russia-Ukraine conflict (2014-15); South Sudan (2013-15); Sudan (2023-4); the Astana process for Syria (2012-23); and Yemen (2015-23). The seminar will be presented by the lead researcher, Professor Laurie Nathan (Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies), and will include a Q&A session featuring the experts who authored the individual case studies.
The project is led by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). It is supported by the Cross-border Conflict, Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research program, funded by UK International Development.
This is a hybrid event held at Chemonics UK Office – 1 Benjamin St, London EC1M 5QL, and virtually
Hybrid Event
28 March 2025, 09:00 (GMT)
Agenda:
09:00 – 09:30: Registration and tea/coffee for in-person attendees
09:30 – 11:30: Presentation and discussion
11:30 – 12:00: Snacks and networking for in-person attendees
About the lead researcher
Prof Laurie Nathan is professor of the Practice of Mediation and Director of the Mediation Program at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. He has published extensively on international mediation and has been a senior mediation advisor to the African Union, the European Union, the United Nations and the governments of Germany, Mozambique and Switzerland.
Moderator: Dr Juline Beaujouan is a researcher and educator with transdisciplinary experience in the field of Peace and Conflict Studies and an interest in collaborative and responsible research practices. She is currently a Post-doctoral Research Fellow with the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep), based at the University of Edinburgh. Juline is also a Senior Researcher with Open Think Tank (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) and a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute Defense and Security Program (Washington D.C.).
Discussant: Marika Theros is a policy fellow at the Conflict and Civicness Research Group at LSE IDEAS and the PI and co-director of PeaceRep’s Afghanistan Research Network. Her research focuses on political mobilization, global-local dynamics of violence and change, peacebuilding and multi-stakeholder dialogues, the politics of knowledge production, and the securitization of climate change.
Case study leads: Michael Aeby; Pavel Baev; Kristian Berg Harpviken; Jørgen Jensehaugen; Julia Palik; Øystein Rolandsen; Laura Suárez; Pinar Tank