A quarter of a century after the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (the Agreement) was signed, dignitaries gathered at Queens University for three days to reflect on what had been accomplished and on the unfinished work of reconciliation.

These are in many ways dark and tumultuous times. A war is raging in the heart of Europe, we are emerging from a global pandemic, inflation is buffeting economies, and the Middle East is still mired in conflict. These three days reminded not only Ireland and the United Kingdom but the entire world of what is possible. I feel very blessed that as a masters student in the Conflict Transformation and Social Justice program at Queens University, I was able to contribute as a volunteer for the conference.

The highlight of entire conference was without a doubt the remarks of former US Senator George Mitchell who chaired the talks that led to the Agreement. In one of the rare moments of political unanimity in Ireland, all parties agreed that Mitchell was indispensable to the success of the Agreement. It simply would not have happened had it not been for his leadership.

The response to Mitchell’s simple presence, never mind his eloquent remarks, was like nothing I had ever seen before.  The applause for the senator was deep, long and profound. Looking at the audience in the Whitla Hall, I knew that many in the audience had been touched by the terrible violence which had once covered Northern Ireland. There were more than a few damp eyes looking at Senator Mitchell.

In his remarks to the conference and later in discussions with my colleagues in the conflict transformation and social justice program, Mitchell stressed the importance of compromise, respect, persistence and most important of all – listening. Listening may seem to be a simple, easy, and even passive task.  However, as Mitchell explained to our class, listening is really an intense process that is critically important to building trust. In the end, Mitchell pointed out that listening is a sign of respect. It means that the other party is trying to understand you. They may not agree with your position, but they are making a sincere effort to understand your point of view.

In his remarks, Mitchell made the important point that while the Agreement was technically only about the island of Ireland, the implications are global: “When you approved the agreement, you also were talking to Israelis and Palestinians, to Colombians, to Africans, to Asians, to Americans. In fact, you were talking to the world. This is an agreement for peace and for the future, not just here, but everywhere.”

As the glow from the conference fades, the task for all of us who want to make the world a better place is to try and build on the impressive legacy that Senator Mitchell has given us all. We may not have the chance to play a role like Mitchell did during the talks that led to the Agreement, but each of us can make a difference in our own way.

Martin is a postgraduate student on the Masters degree programme: Conflict Transformation and Social Justice. His dissertation focuses on The Politics of Persuasion: How the Irish Republican Leadership Sold the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to their Constituency.