In an increasingly dystopian world, we have shifted from the era of soft to hard power. The promises of ‘peace dividends’ have given way to the unsettling echoes of war in Europe, marking the end of one Cold War and ushering in a new East–West confrontation in Ukraine. The once unchallenged Pax Americana has yielded to a multipolar world, while the dream of an all-powerful United Nations now faces the harsh truth of marginalisation.

Against this backdrop, we delve into the intricate work of those at the forefront of peace negotiations, exploring the moral quandaries and dynamic political pressures inherent in conflict mediation.

We look at the back-channel mediation and the challenges faced by those on the front lines, working to prevent, manage, or resolve conflicts between adversaries. What responsibility do they bear when a peace agreement between two conflicting parties negatively impacts a third? Should mediators ever endorse ‘ethnic cleansing’ to preserve lives? Is a precarious peace worth the sacrifice of justice, or does such a compromise risk triggering another cycle of violence?

Join us on January 24th, 2024, as we shine a light on the untold stories and pressing concerns within the realm of conflict mediation.

In an increasingly dystopian world, we have shifted from the era of soft to hard power. The promises of ‘peace dividends’ have given way to the unsettling echoes of war in Europe, marking the end of one Cold War and ushering in a new East–West confrontation in Ukraine. The once unchallenged Pax Americana has yielded to a multipolar world, while the dream of an all-powerful United Nations now faces the harsh truth of marginalisation.

Against this backdrop, we delve into the intricate work of those at the forefront of peace negotiations, exploring the moral quandaries and dynamic political pressures inherent in conflict mediation.

We look at the back-channel mediation and the challenges faced by those on the front lines, working to prevent, manage, or resolve conflicts between adversaries. What responsibility do they bear when a peace agreement between two conflicting parties negatively impacts a third? Should mediators ever endorse ‘ethnic cleansing’ to preserve lives? Is a precarious peace worth the sacrifice of justice, or does such a compromise risk triggering another cycle of violence?

Join us on January 24th, 2024, as we shine a light on the untold stories and pressing concerns within the realm of conflict mediation.

Speakers:

Pierre Hazan is a senior advisor with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Formerly a Harvard Law School fellow, United States Institute of Peace fellow and Libération diplomatic correspondent, he has advised NGOs, governments and armed groups on justice, amnesty, reparation, truth commissions, forced disappearances, international humanitarian law and human rights. He is the author of Negotiating with the Devil: Inside the World of Armed Conflict Mediation, 2024.

Claire Hajaj has spent years working in international aid and conflict resolution for the United Nations, across war zones from Burma to Baghdad. She shares Palestinian and Jewish heritage, growing up between the deserts of the Middle East and the gardens of rural England. She is the author of The Water Thief, 2018 and Ishmael’s Oranges, 2015.