Oxford Network of Peace Studies (OxPeace)

Coordinator: Dr Liz Carmichael, St John's College

@OxPeaceNetwork

The Oxford Network of Peace Studies (OxPeace) is a multi-disciplinary initiative to promote the academic study of peace, peacemaking, peacebuilding and peacekeeping at the University of Oxford. It is an affiliated centre of the Centre for International Studies.

OxPeace defines peace positively, as: ‘human security and human flourishing, in a sustainable environment, with the constructive management of conflict.’ The OxPeace Steering Committee comprises scholars, students, and practitioners from a variety of disciplines. It organizes conferences, seminars and training workshops, and publicises information about other related events. OxPeace looks toward the establishment of posts in Peace Studies, and particularly a Chair, at Oxford.

The concept of ‘peacebuilding’ has come to be central to peace studies. Successful outcomes in peacebuilding depend on inclusive perspectives drawn from many disciplines including politics and international relations, history, anthropology, economics, law, ethics, theology and religious studies, development, education; gender studies, media, environmental, war and conflict studies, and the growing specialism of peace studies itself. OxPeace events have demonstrated how a focus on peace adds a fresh dimension to established disciplines and engenders a distinctive multidisciplinary synergy. OxPeace seeks to promote links between academic researchers, policy makers, and grassroots practitioners; and between the global North and South.

OxPeace has held an annual multidisciplinary conference each May since 2009. Hear the podcasts for these, and explore future events, via the links at the bottom of the page.

To contact OxPeace, or join its mailing lists, please email Dr Liz Carmichael.

Committee

OxPeace Steering Committee

Convenor: Revd Dr Liz Carmichael MBE (Theology); Prof. Andy Gosler (Ethno-ornithology), Prof. John Gledhill (International Development); Prof. the Lord Alderdice (Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict, CRIC); Dr Richard Barltrop (researcher and consultant mediator); Dr Isabella Bunn (Law and Human Rights, Regent’s); Dr Christopher Watson (Physics, Merton), Prof. Federica d’ Alessandra (Director, Oxford Programme of International Peace and Security, Blavatnik School of Government); Gwen Burnyeat (JRF in Anthropology, Merton), Maya Ungar and Rachel Wibberley (GGD MSt candidates); Maria Power (Las Casas Inst., Blackfriars), Dr Tim Epple (UNMISS), Abigail Branford (D.Phil. candidate, Education), Dr Noele Crossley (International Security, UCL), Matt Waldman (European Institute of Peace), Prof. Sarah von Billerbeck (International Relations, Reading Univ.), Andrei Gomez-Suarez (Winchester Univ.), Tim Midgley (peacebuilding consultant) Will Pryor (OPEN), Dr Jeremy Cunningham; Antony Ives, Rosie Houldsworth, Alejandro Posada Tellez (DPhil candidate, DPIR).
Advisers

Professor Richard Caplan (CIS, International Relations); Professor Mary King (RAI & UN University for Peace); Dr Phil Clark (Transitional Justice, SOAS); Dr Rama Mani (Senior Research Associate, CIS); Professor Henry Shue (DPIR; Human Rights); Dr Hugo Slim (Senior Research Fellow, ELAC, Blavatnik School of Government); Rt Revd and Rt Hon. the Lord Williams of Oystermouth; Dr John Chesworth (Muslim-Christian Studies); Prof Jake Lynch (Dept of Peace & Conflict Studies, Univ of Sydney); Professor Neil MacFarlane (DPIR).

OxPeace is glad to acknowledge the ongoing support of the Oxford Peace Research Trust (OPRT) a registered charity founded in 2003 to promote the study of peace in Oxford.
Patrons

Rt Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes, Nobel Peace Laureates President Jimmy Carter and José Ramos-Horta, Most Revd and Rt Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.

For an introduction to our work, with some of our Committee members and Conference speakers, please watch our YouTube video, 'OxPeace: Promoting the Study of Peace at Oxford University' (links below):