An IASH Work-in-Progress seminar, delivered by Nicola Dahrendorf (Nominated Fellow 2021-22):
Is there a role for arts practice in peace mediation processes?
The higher vision for a peace process is to be a process political transformation. It can also be a process of social and cultural transformation, where old grievances are addressed, and new narratives emerge. Arts practitioners can contribute significantly to acknowledgment of past grievances and reimagining a shared vision for the future.
My research builds on three decades of working in conflict environments, where I have become closely involved in mediation practice at the community level and in support of political mediation processes at a decision-making level. I have been collating perspectives on the future of political peace meditation, based on exchanges with experienced mediators and mediation practitioners, educators, arts practitioners and psychologists. I draw on work that I have participated in, witnessed and documented to explore the role of arts practice as an entry point and a tool for mediation and peace processes. I have gathered material exploring the potential of mainstreaming arts practice in mediation processes that investigates whether the engagement of arts practitioners has the potential to capture more fully the complexity of a protracted conflict, to offer new channels of communication in negotiations, and to make peace processes more interdisciplinary and inclusive and even sustainable.
It is clear that the community of mediation practitioners need to examine larger questions. These include the effect of the rapidly shifting social, economic, political and security environment for political mediation, considering the changing nature of conflicts, issues around nationalism and sovereignty, the long-term impact of Covid19, the need for greater digital literacy, the impact of the climate crisis on new conflicts, the role of insider mediation and the debate on anti-colonialism. I do not propose to solve the issues but to build a platform for future work and debate.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/81322391722
Passcode: Vr8f3ew2