Rejuvenating Peace Processes: Lessons Learned

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Conference

Rejuvenating Peace Processes: Lessons Learned

23 May 2025 | Point Hotel Taksim, Beyoğlu / Istanbul

The 20th century was marked by numerous conflicts, each with varying degrees of violence. In response, many negotiated peace agreements were signed in the closing decades of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st. However, there is still much to understand about the precise conditions and moments when the idea of returning to the negotiating table becomes a reality.

Re-starting peace talks after a breakdown is a complex and delicate process, requiring leaders from conflicting parties to carefully analyze a range of interrelated factors. The success of re-initiating negotiations often depends on key elements such as timing, trust-building, and creating the right environment for productive dialogue.

This workshop seeks to convene representatives from conflict parties who have participated in peace negotiations to explore the factors that led to the resumption of talks in their respective countries.

The key concepts and questions that participants will be asked to specifically address are:

• Timing and ripeness: Can the right timing for peace talks be estimated? Is there a ripe moment?
• Trust and confidence-building measures: Is there a way for increasing trust and confidence between the conflicting parties to convince them to get back to the table?
• Domestic and international developments: Are there certain domestic and international changes that make conflicting parties reconsider their positions and be open to dialogue? Are there any incentives for re-starting the peace processes? Are they coming from credible actors? Has the influence of such actors changed over time?
• New actors: Over the span of the conflict, has there been any emerging actor affecting the conflict dynamics? What were their positive/negative effects on the conflict? Can they be utilized for re-starting peace talks or are they considered as obstacles?
• Leadership: What role do leaders play in revitalization of peace talks and (whether and) how do their visions change over time?

Conference Program

13:00   Registration

13:15   Welcoming speeches

• Ayşe Betül Çelik, Sabancı University
• Tina Blohm, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Turkey Office

13:30   Panel 1: Rejuvenating Peace Processes

Chair: Ayşe Betül Çelik, Sabancı University

• Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, Government Negotiator, Philippines
• Shadia Marhaban, Free Aceh Movement (GAM) Negotiator, Indonesia
• Neha Sanghrajka, Senior Conflict Sensitivity Advisor for United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
• Bronagh Hinds, Senior Associate, DemocraShe,Northern Ireland

15:30   Coffee break

16:00   Panel 2: Lessons Learned

Chair: Mehmet Gürses, University of Central Florida, United States

• Joshua N. Weiss, Harvard University, United States
• Mirko Manzoni, Ambassador to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Eswatini and Permanent Representative to SADC
• Mesut Yeğen, Kurdish History Journal, Turkey
• Mehmet Gürses, University of Central Florida, United States

18:00   End of Conference

Click here to download the program and speaker biographies