Research-Policy Dialogue: Conflict Resolution Involving Islamist Actors

On Monday 1 October, the Center for Security Studies (CSS) co-arranged a research-policy dialogue at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in Bern. The objective of the workshop was to bring together researchers and policymakers to exchange knowledge and experiences on the topic of conflict resolution in armed conflicts involving Islamist actors. The workshop was arranged together with the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University (DPCR), and the FDFA.

One of the most pressing challenges on the contemporary global agenda is how to resolve armed conflicts involving militant Islamist groups. However, despite a growing literature on conflict resolution in civil wars, we know surprisingly little about the conditions under which Islamist armed conflicts may be brought to a peaceful end. Against this background, the workshop discussions revolved around a set of guiding questions: Are Islamist armed conflicts different to other types of armed conflicts, and, if so, what specific challenges do they pose? Do we need new approaches to resolve Islamist armed conflicts and which actors are best placed to engage in conflict resolution efforts? What can research and practice tell us about conflict resolution involving Islamist actors?

The event was chaired by Urs Beer (Human Security Division, FDFA) and Isak Svensson (DPCR) gave the keynote address. Jean-Nicolas Bitter (Human Security Division, FDFA), Mimmi Söderberg Kovacs (FBA), and Govinda Clayton (CSS) facilitated panel discussions where prominent scholars in the field shared their insights from their research and interacted with the policymakers.