Kelman Seminar: Peacemaking is in Trouble – What Now?
The Herbert C. Kelman Seminar on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution presents:
Peacemaking is in Trouble – What Now?
How to strengthen mediation effectiveness in a dangerous new era.
A virtual talk with:
Matthew Waldman
Expert Adviser, European Leadership Network
Senior Advisor, European Institute of Peace
Associate, Department of Politics and International Relations, Oxford University
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, ET (US and Canada)
Free and open to the public.
About the talk:
What if the world’s peacemaking system has fundamental flaws? Today, armed conflicts are at their highest level since World War II, and civil wars have surged since 2011. Many peacemaking initiatives are failing.
Mediation specialist Matt Waldman will share research that indicates these failures stem from both the complexities of conflict resolution and flaws in the mediation system itself. He argues for the need to recognize organizational issues and focus on improvements through an inclusive, multidisciplinary approach. He suggests a process involving self-examination and open discussions to enhance effectiveness by learning from other fields. As the world faces unprecedented threats to peace, a collective effort in mediation could help improve stability.
Waldman draws on his research, conducted through Oxford University and published by Harvard’s Belfer Center, that includes interviews with 86 leading mediators and discussions with dozens of experts, making it one of the largest consultations of its kind. Download “Peacemaking in Trouble” here and read an interview with the author from Oxford University here.
About the speaker:
Matt Waldman is an Expert Adviser at the European Leadership Network, a Senior Adviser at the European Institute of Peace, and an Associate at Oxford University’s Department of Politics and International Relations, specializing in the Russia–Ukraine war and China-West relations.
Previously, he served as a Special Adviser to UN envoys on Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, and Yemen, contributing to mediation efforts across various international organizations. Waldman’s research on armed conflict and foreign policymaking has been conducted at prestigious institutions, including Harvard Law School, the Belfer Center, and Cambridge University.
As an international lawyer, he has also advised both the UK and European Parliaments, demonstrating a strong commitment to global peace and cooperation.
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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