Resources

Interviews with mediation experts

In its training activities, the Mediation Support Project works with the most experienced mediators. We thereby collect their knowledge and insights on security issues, process, micro skills, and other topics related to peace mediation. Watch the movies below and enjoy to the inspiring and thought-provoking insights of Laurie Nathan and Jeremy Brickhill.

• Laurie Nathan on process design, inclusivity, mediation skills, security and justice. Interviewed by Simon J A Mason (CSS) on March 18 2009 in Stalden i.E., Switzerland.

  Click on the topics below the screen for a description of each clip.

  Click play to watch the movie or to select another one.

  Juggling complexity (movies 1&2)

  To watch these movies click on the above screen and select the ap­pro­priate movie on the bottom of the screen.

  1. Design of peace processes: The Role of international com­mu­ni­ties, donors, other stakeholders, divisions in the par­ties, local population, and spoilers. Laurie Nathan ela­bo­rates on the potential of process design.
  2. The role of third parties: Laurie Nathan on comparative roles of UN, AU, states or NGO mediation: How to combine autho­rity and flexibility.

  Inclusivity (movies 3&4)

  To watch these movies click on the above screen and select the ap­pro­priate movie on the bottom of the screen.

  3. Causes and implications of exclusion: What are the reasons and implications of excluding parties from peace processes? Laurie Nathan reflects on the example of Hamas (Middle East), the Janjaweed (Darfur), the parties in Burundi, the ANC (South Africa), RENAMO (Mosambique).
  4. Mediator's options with inclusivity: What can a mediator do, when parties exclude other parties? Laurie Nathan on the Doha Darfur peace process.

  Mediation skills (movies 5-7)

  To watch these movies click on the above screen and select the ap­pro­priate movie on the bottom of the screen.

  5. Fostering empathy: How to translate demands into a pro­cess? Understanding underlying needs, interests and fears. Laurie Nathan reflects on the examples of South Africa and Israel/Palestine.
  6. Dealing with 'no': What to do when the parties say no, when they set preconditions? Laurie Nathan on the use of the "single text method", experts coaching, use of advisors, technical options, working groups, shuttle diplomacy.
  7. Personalities in peace mediation: The characteristics of mediators and negotiators: Are there any differences and commonalities?

  Security risks and fears (movies 8-11)

  To watch these movies click on the above screen and select the ap­pro­priate movie on the bottom of the screen.

  8. Understanding violence: What is violence, what is the role of mediators in intractable conflicts? Laurie Nathan on the im­por­tance of security arrangements in Darfur.
  9. Vulnerability: What are security risks and fears related to peace agreements? How to mitigate those risks? Laurie Nathan elaborates on the role of third parties.
  10. Protect our people: Laurie Nathan illustrates the Go­vern­ments' fears of security arrangements in peace agree­ments through the case of Darfur.
  11. Loss of leverage: How to deal with the parties' fear of loss of leverage when negotiating a cessation of hostilities? Laurie Nathan reflects on the case of Sudan.

  Peace and Justice (movies 12&13)

  To watch these movies click on the above screen and select the ap­pro­priate movie on the bottom of the screen.

  12. Amnesty, peace and local ownership: How to approach the "no amnesty, no peace agreement" position? Laurie Nathan argues that local ownership was key in South Africa.
  13. External pressure and international justice: What is the use of pressure to push parties to negotiations? Laurie Nathan reflects on the role of human rights advocacy, international tribunals, the ICC and the use of sanctions in Darfur.

  Further reading:Laurie Nathan (2006), No Ownership No Peace - The Darfur Peace Agreement.

• Jeremy Brickhill on security arrangements in peace processes. Interviewed by Simon J A Mason (CSS) on May 5 2009 in Einsiedeln, Switzerland.

  Click on the bar below the screen for a description of each clip.

  Click play to watch the movie or to select another one.

  Short description of video clips with Jeremy Brickhill

  To watch these movies click on the above screen and select the ap­pro­priate movie on the bottom of the screen.

  1. Three phases of security arrangements: Security ar­range­ments can be subdivided into three phases. Jeremy Brickhill locates negligence with regard to the middle phase, where parties would need more time to test the water and build confidence.
  2. Security arrangements as strategic entry points in me­dia­tion: Security arrangements are often seen as 'technical add ons' in peace processes. Jeremy Brickhill argues that this is mistaken and that security arrangements lend themselves as entry points for direct talks in an early stage and as confidence building measure.
  3. The roles of civil mediators and military experts: Jeremy Brickhill identifies a need for more training in security ar­range­ments for mediators. At the same time, mediators must know when to approach actual military experts that may discuss technical issues with the parties.
  4. State building is not peace building: Jeremy Brickhill points at practical problems and misconceptions of western policy makers, such as the equation peace building = state building.
  5. Different levels of ceasefires: Jeremy Brickhill describes promising initiatives at the local level that complement the western top-down approach in peace negotiations.

  Further reading:Jeremy Brickhill (2007), Protecting Civilians Through Peace Agreements - Challenges and Lessons of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

• Mohamed Suliman on Conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa. Interviewed by Simon J A Mason (CSS) on October 31 2009 in London, UK.

  Click on the bar below the screen for a description of each clip.

  Click play to watch the movie or to select another one.

  Short description of video clips with Mohamed Suliman

  To watch these movies click on the above screen and select the ap­pro­priate movie on the bottom of the screen.

  Mohamed Suliman reflects on his longstanding experience as a researcher and trainer on conflict resolution and environment in Sudan and explains how conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa emerge, evolve, and how they might eventually be mitigated or resolved:

  1. What are the causes of conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa?
  2. How are traditional and governmental conflict resolution mechanisms applied?
  3. What are the shortcomings of western property rights when dealing with conflicts in the Sahel Region?
  4. How do conflicts change over time? Escalation, relaxation, and the importance early intervention.
  5. The emergence of identity related conflicts in sub-saharan Africa.
  6. What are the options for mediators in identity related conflicts?
  7. What can you expect from capacity building in peace processes?
  8. Why is security so important during mediation and what do you need to take care of?

  Further reading:Mohamed Suliman (1997), The Inversion of Ethnicity from Perception to Cause in Violent Conflicts - The Case of the Fur and Nuba Conflicts in Western Sudan.

For more resources, please visit www.swisspeace.ch/mediation. Would you like to be informed about upcoming material we produce? Just click here and press "send" to subscribe our MSP Mailings (about 3-4 mailings per year).

All video clips were produced by the Mediation Support Project, a joint project of the Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich and swisspeace, Bern, initiated and funded by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

• Home
• About
• Peace Mediation Course
• Tailor-Made Trainings
• Resources
• Movies
• Papers
• Essentials
• e-learning