Papers
swisspeace and the Center for Security Studies regularly publish papers, reports, and articles on mediation and peace processes. Below you find a selection of the most recent publications (co-)authored by the Mediation Support Project staff. If you wish to be informed about upcoming publications, you may subscribe our MSP mailings (roughly 3-4 mailings per year). Just click here and then press "send".
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Title:Money Makers as Peace Makers? Business Actors in Mediation Processes Authors: Andrea Iff, Damiano Sguaitamatti,Rina M. Alluri, Daniela Kohler Year: 2010 Publisher: swisspeace |
the aim of this working paper is to shed light on this less researched and discussed issue by assessing: (1) the types of business actors that are involved in mediation processes; (2) the different roles that business actors can play in peace mediation; (3) how and when they can best be involved in the mediation process; and, (4) the specific circumstances and context factors that influence their involvement. The results show that private business actors have an important role to play in Track 1 mediation processes, by providing resources, expertise, networks, and by lobbying for peace. While this research focused on track 1 and 1.5 mediation processes, the study finds that (local) business actors have the potential to play a relevant and active role in lower tracks as mediators and facilitators
Mediating Tensions over Islam in Denmark, Holland, and Switzerland
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Title:Mediating Tensions over Islam in Denmark, Holland, and Switzerland Authors: Simon J A Mason, Abbas Aroua, Annika Åberg Year: 2010 Publisher: Mediation Support Project |
Transforming Conflicts with Religious Dimensions
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Title: Transforming Conflicts with Religious Dimensions - Methodologies and Practical Experiences Authors:Abbas Aroua et al. (ed. by Simon J A Mason and Moncef Kartas) Year: 2010 Publisher:Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding at the Graduate Institute (Geneva) and CSS/ETH-Zurich |
Debriefing Mediators to Learn from Their Experiences
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Title: Debriefing Mediators to Learn from Their Experiences Authors: Simon J A Mason and Matthias Siegfried Year: 2010 Publisher: United States Institute of Peace |
The goal of this handbook is to enhance the practice of mediation by showing how lessons from individual mediators can be identified and made available both to their home organization (e.g., a foreign ministry, intergovernmental organization, or nongovernmental organization) and to a wider practitioner audience. More particularly, the handbook gives guidance to staff debriefing mediators who are or have been directly involved in peace negotiations.
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Title: Insider Mediators Author: Simon J A Mason Year: 2009 Publisher: Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich and Berhof Foundation for Peacebuilding |
The West has long proposed an “outsider/impartial” mediation model, arguing that distance and neutrality towards the conflict parties create acceptance and trust. The West is wrong. Most mediators in the world work along the lines of an “insider/partial” model. These mediators live in the conflict region, are affected by the conflict and they develop personal ties with the conflict parties. This study examines their often-unrecognized contribution to peace. It aims to find out how they mediate, and what makes them effective. Recognizing their key role in peace processes is essential to supporting them and increasing the effectiveness both of formal and informal mediation efforts.
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Title: The Tormented Triangle: The Regionalisation of Conflict in Sudan, Chad and the Central African Republic Author: Jennifer Giroux, David Lanz, Damiano Sguaitamatti Year: 2009 Publisher: London School of Economics, Crisis States Research Centre |
In 2005, increased violence in Chad and the Central Africa Republic (CAR) attracted media attention that lead to human rights advocates and some analysts describing these conflicts as a simple “spill-over” from the war in Darfur or the “Darfurization” of the region. This paper argues that the conflicts in Darfur, eastern Chad, and north-eastern CAR have become so interwoven that they are scarcely separable from one another and actually form one regional conflict system rather than three distinct conflicts. The aim of this paper is to make sense of regionalised conflict in north-central Africa, in particular the structural factors that caused it and the dynamics sustaining it.
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Title: To Be a Negotiator: Strategies and Tactics Author: Lazaro Sumbeiywo Year: 2009 Publisher: Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich and swisspeace |
From 12–14 July 2008, Lt. General Lazaro Sumbeiywo, the former chief of staff of the Kenyan armed forces, participated as a lecturer in a training workshop on conflict resolution and peacebuilding for a Darfurian armed non-state actor. This short article is based on these lectures and thus directly addresses armed non-state actors preparing for peace negotiations. It covers all of the main issues involved in preparation for negotiations, as well as the strategies and tactics of a negotiator during the negotiations phase, while also addressing, in parallel, the necessary qualities of a good negotiator.
Towards a Swiss “Whole of Government” Approach in Sudan
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Title: Towards a Swiss “Whole of Government” Approach in Sudan: 2005-2008 Author: Simon J A Mason, David Lanz Year: 2009 Publisher: Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich |
This report aims to contribute to the reflection within and outside of the Swiss Federal Administration on the “whole-ofgovernment approach”, i.e., the use of networks across agencies to increase the effectiveness of engagements in fragile states. It does so by focusing on the experiences of the various agencies of the Swiss Federal Administration engaged in Sudan from 2005–2008. The findings of this report are drawn from interviews with approximately 25 policy-makers working on Sudan in Berne as well as in Khartoum and Juba.
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Title: Towards Realizing the Strengths and Mitigating the Challenges of NGO Mediators Author: David Lanz, Damiano Sguaitamatti, Matthias Siegfried Year: 2009 Publisher: Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich and swisspeace |
Following the high-level debate on mediation in the United Nations Security Council on 23 September 2008, the Council requested that the Secretary-General submit a report on mediation within six months. This report will provide a framework for mediation efforts within the UN system and beyond. Among other topics, it considers the unique contributions of NGO mediators as well as possibilities for collaboration and complementary action between NGOs and the UN in mediation processes.
Unpacking the Mystery of Mediation
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Title: Unpacking the Mystery of Mediation in African Peace Processes Author: Annika Åberg, Sabina Laederach, David Lanz, Jonathan Litscher, Simon J A Mason, Damiano Sguaitamatti Year: 2008 Publisher: Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich and swisspeace |
Mediation is a mystery. Some peace processes are successful, some are dismal failures, and most are a bit of both. The transition of a society from war to peace is extremely complex and difficult. The aim of this study is to partially “unpack” the mystery of mediation, in order to learn about the use of mediation in African peace processes during the last decade. The study analyzes 11 cases of mediation work in diverse conflict situations, with various parties and mediators, offering insights into the nuts and bolts of mediation in African peace processes.
Linking Environment and Conflict Prevention
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Title: Linking Environment and Conflict Prevention Author: Rina Alluri, Simon J A Mason, Adrian Muller, Christian Schmid, Albrecht Schnabel Year: 2008 Publisher: Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich and swisspeace |
This report highlights the links between environment and violent conflicts, exploring the potential role of the UN in preventing environment-related conflicts. Conflict prevention measures can be further distinguished into the subcategories of structural conflict prevention (focusing on long-term prevention of crises and their underlying driving factors) and operational conflict prevention (dealing with measures applicable in the face of immediate crisis). The report especially focuses on violent political conflicts, including both international conflicts and intra-national conflicts with the potential of international spillover.
Tools for Building Confidence on the Korean Peninsula
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Title: Tools for Building Confidence on the Korean Peninsula Author: Zdzislaw Lachowski, Martin Sjögren, Alyson J. K. Bailes, John Hart, Shannon N. Kile, Simon Mason, Victor Mauer Year: 2007 Publisher: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (sipri), Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich |
The aim of the project was to examine the potential role of confidence-building measures (CBMs) on the Korean Peninsula. North-East Asia faces a wide range of security challenges. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (ROK, South Korea) have lived as separate states since the end of the Korean War in 1953 without a full and formal peace treaty. Bilateral tension has also often been high between North Korea and the USA; and also China, Japan, and Russia are involved in the complex security situation on the Korean Peninsula.
The project addresses the following question: what role can 'confidence building' techniques play in moving an initial deal on the most burning questions into a broader and lasting security regime - both for the Korean peninsula and its immediate neighborhood? The nuclear question is outside the main focus of this study, although it is addressed due to its major impact on the peninsula.
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Title: Conflict Analysis Tools Author: Simon J A Mason, Sandra Rychard Year: 2005 Publisher: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation |
This conflict analysis Tip Sheet summarizes seven tools that can be used to assess different characteristics of a conflict in a structured way. It focuses our attention on particular aspects of a conflict, to bring order into a confused conflict perception. Conflict analysis is not an 'objective' art. It is influenced by different world-views, which are embodies in theories such as the Harvard Approach, the Human Needs Theory and the Conflict Transformation approach.
