International Norms and Islamic Principles: Exploring Commonalities for Peacebuilding
The Herbert C. Kelman Seminar on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution presents:
International Norms and Islamic Principles:
Exploring Commonalities for Peacebuilding
A virtual discussion with:
Dr. Houda Abadi
Executive Director
Transformative Peace
Eldridge Adolfo
Senior Advisor of Dialogue and Mediation
Folke Bernadotte Academy, Stockholm
Mark Muller Stuart KC
Professor of Practice
Edinburgh University
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Free and open to the public
About the talk:
In this session, our speakers will introduce a new dimension to contemporary peacebuilding that explores applying an innovative approach to establishing commonalities between international norms and the Islamic principles of peacebuilding. This approach is based on a four-year research project between the London School of Economics, Uppsala University, and Folke Bernadotte Academy that engaged over 100 Islamic and contemporary Western scholars, transitional leaders, and peace practitioners. The research has been stress-tested by implementing the principles in practical, real-life conflict situations such as Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Sudan. The objective is to instigate broader discussion among peace practitioners and policymakers engaged in peacebuilding in Muslim-majority contexts where other national and cultural aspects must be considered, especially in this changing world order.
Guide to Peacemaking Using Islamic Principles | Folke Bernadotte Academy
About the speakers:
Dr Houda Abadi is the Executive Director of Transformative Peace, a consulting firm specializing in inclusive peace processes, women, peace and security, and human rights-based approaches to preventing violent extremism. She has over 15 years of extensive experience designing and implementing peacebuilding programs in the U.S., Europe, and the MENA region. Dr. Abadi works with a wide range of stakeholders to facilitate dialogue and promote peacebuilding in sensitive conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq, Palestine, and Syria.
Eldridge Adolfo is the Senior Advisor of Dialogue and Mediation at the Folke Bernadotte Academy in Stockholm. He has extensive experience in mediating and negotiating with armed conflict parties, process design, developing transitional arrangements, mediation, and preventative diplomacy. Adolfo was previously Mediation Advisor at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and with the United Nations. He was a Mediation Adviser to several Special Envoys and Special Representatives of the Secretary-General (SRSG). He was a conflict researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden, and with the Swedish Defense Research Agency. Adolfo has worked in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia peace processes.
Mark Muller Stuart KC (Kings Council) is a Professor of Practice at Edinburgh University Law School and the London School of Economics, where he directs the International Norms Project. He is also the founder of Beyond Borders Scotland, a Scottish-based dialogue and peacebuilding organization dedicated to international cultural and policy exchange. Since 2015, Stuart has acted as a Senior Mediation Advisor to the United Nations Department of Political and Peace Building Affairs’ Mediation Support Unit, advising various United Nations Special Envoys and Representatives, including in relation to Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Iraq, Georgia, and Afghanistan. He also advises the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) in Sweden on other peace and dialogue processes, including in relation to Ukraine. He is a co-founder of the Delfina Foundation in London.
About the Herbert C. Kelman Seminar Series:
The Herbert C. Kelman Seminar on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution series is sponsored by the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School and The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. The seminar considers ways to strengthen the capacity to prevent, resolve, and transform ethnonational conflicts.
For more information on the Kelman Seminar Series, contact Donna Hicks at dhicks@wcfia.harvard.edu.
Accommodation Statement:
The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School (PON) is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation(s) for persons with disabilities in connection with its programs and activities. Accommodations must not fundamentally alter applicable PON programming and are not retroactive.
Event participants should request accommodations at least two weeks prior to the start date of a program or event, as accommodations may take time to implement. Please note that PON will make every effort to secure services, but these are subject to availability.
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