4. Ethno-sectarian conflicts over land, representation,
and rights
The use of religion in constructing identity
Militarization of non-state actors
U.S. investment in both conflicts
5. “Free Derry” sign in the
Nationalist section of
Derry, Northern Ireland
Mural paralleling the IRA
and PLO struggles,
Northern Ireland
6. (1) Explore the impact that strategic interests and
relations between the mediator and the
disputing parties have on neutrality and the
effectiveness of the mediator in resolving the
conflict
(1) Determine whether neutrality is a necessary
characteristic of a third-party mediator, or
when a bias utilized in a strategic manner by a
third-party mediator may be beneficial to
resolving a conflict
7. • Primary source accounts of the actors present
throughout the peace processes
• Interviews with academics within the field of
conflict resolution and with expertise on the
specific peace processes
• Governmental records and documents
• Previous studies of the individual conflicts and
their peace processes
8. 1993 – 1998
Nationalist and Unionist Parties of Northern Ireland, the British
Government, and the Irish Government
Mediated by Senator George Mitchell, U.S. Special Envoy for
Northern Ireland and Independent Chair of Negotiations
Belfast Agreement of 1998
9. A neutral approach to the peace process
Balanced power dynamics between the disputing
parties
A settlement accepted by all
10. 1993 – 2000
The Israeli Government and the Palestinian Liberation
Organization (PLO)
Mediated by U.S. President Bill Clinton and team of U.S.
diplomats and advisors
Camp David Negotiations, 2000
11. The U.S. priority: Israeli
security
Imbalance of power
between disputing
parties
Failure to place pressure
on Israel
12. • The context of a conflict and power dynamics
between disputing conflicts are key in
considering whether a neutral approach by a
third-party mediator would be beneficial to
the resolution of a conflict
• Neutrality is theoretically beneficial to a
peace process, but a more coercive, biased
approach that is adjusted according to the
power dynamics of the conflict may be
necessary to successfully resolve a conflict
13. • Dr. Melani McAlister
• Zakia Nouri
• My Undergraduate Scholars class
• Courtney Heath, Lindsay Kallman, and
Amy Stearns
