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This book elucidates the concrete experiences of the authors in political conflict mediation in Northern Ireland and Uganda. Written by two leading Quaker mediators, but, most case studies, quotes, stories and anecdotes described here are from a combination of sources that are useful to those who have acted as mediators and to anyone who may take on this kind of role in the future.  Mediation and negotiation efforts described here provides different perspective of understanding political mediation. Engaging various key peace stakeholders in political settlement and utilizing the approach of working behind the scenes and leading from behind make all the processes possible.

“I notice we are always framing our conversations with the starting point of COVID - That is what most media outlets are feeding us. It is what makes us locked down. I really want to challenge us as peacebuilders to stop doing that – to stop talking about COVID the disease, and to start talking about the situations that we face in the world today. Because the pandemic is not the only thing that is going on.”
Emma Leslie, Executive Director

For much of 2020, the world’s focus has been on the pandemic of COVID19 – the medical crisis, the challenges of various levels of quarantine and restrictions, and the looming economic challenges. However, there are other, big developments that continue and that have massive implications for peacebuilding. CPCS Director Emma Leslie challenges peace builders to stop focusing only on COVID19 and the “new normal”, and to refocus our energy and our resources to ending violent conflict. With this in mind, Emma shares “6C’s of Peacebuilding” that can guide us to sustain our energy and creativity in 2020 and beyond.

“Peacebuilding always begins in the midst of crisis; challenging situations push us to get creative, strategic, and think beyond the way we’ve been doing things. How do we continue to build and nurture relationships with our partners, when most of us are now in zoom rooms instead of meeting face to face?”
Emma Leslie, Executive Director

The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) has adapted our approach to peacebuilding to adjust to the “online” world we currently all live in. In consultation with our colleagues and partners, and reflecting in our teams on what this experience has been like, CPCS has identified key lessons learned, principles, and tips for peacebuilding online, captured in a series of learning papers to answer the question: What happens when peacebuilders go “online”?

“While COVID19 is a terrible tragedy that's going on in our world, we feel strongly about holding onto peacebuilding right now; staying motivated and focusing on the terrible violent conflicts that are still in our region but equally the many possibilities for peace.”
Emma Leslie, Executive Director

The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) has adapted our approach to peacebuilding to adjust to the “online” world we currently all live in. In consultation with our colleagues and partners, and reflecting in our teams on what this experience has been like, CPCS has identified key lessons learned, principles, and tips for peacebuilding online, captured in a series of learning papers to answer the question: What happens when peacebuilders go “online”?

“This has been a really creative and interesting time for us to think through what kind of peacebuilding we can do in the midst of the global pandemic. We’ve been in touch with all of our partners and stakeholders, and had incredible conversations and reflections, challenging ourselves to think about what does the future bring, and equally what parts of the way we worked in the past we like to leave behind us.”
Emma Leslie, Executive Director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies

The Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) has adapted our approach to peacebuilding to adjust to the “online” world we currently all live in. In consultation with our colleagues and partners, and reflecting in our teams on what this experience has been like, CPCS has identified key lessons learned, principles, and tips for peacebuilding online, captured in a series of learning papers to answer the question: What happens when peacebuilders go “online”?