Public Seminar: International Mediation as the Management of Complexity

Speaker: Professor Laurie Nathan

Chair: Dr. Abiodun Alao 

Efforts to improve the quality and efficacy of international mediation in civil wars, whether through research, training, policy guidelines or organisational innovation, should be based on a good grasp of the essence of the enterprise. The paper argues that the essence of this type of peacemaking is the challenge of managing complexity. It shows that complexity theory can provide valuable conceptual and practical insights into mediation and discusses the failure of international mediation to respond adequately to the challenge of complexity.
Professor Laurie NathanProf Laurie Nathan is Director of the Centre for Mediation in Africa at the University of Pretoria. He has published extensively on peacemaking and regional security and works closely with the UN and the AU on mediation in intra-state conflict. He is currently the Team leader of the AU-EU assessment of the African Peace and Security Architecture.

Room K0.18 King’s Building, Strand, London WC2R 2LS
Wednesday 19th November 2014
14.00- 16:00