Negotiating with the Devil: Inside the World of Armed Conflict Mediation

Speaker: Pierre Hazan (Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue)

Organisers:  Professor Louise Mallinder (Queen’s University Belfast) and Dr Julia Viebach (Queen’s University Belfast)

In this Lecture, Pierre Hazan shares insights from his recent book Negotiating with the Devil: Inside the World of Armed Conflict Mediation (Hurst, 2024) to provide insider reflections on the political and ethical ‘red lines’ that shape talks with armed interlocutors, be they states or insurgents.

This book draws on Pierre Hazan’s many years in the little-known world of back-channel mediation, helping sworn adversaries to prevent, manage or resolve conflict. The lecture will explore in particular the acute practical and ethical dilemmas that affected his work in Bosnia, Ukraine, the Sahel and the Central African Republic.

Among the questions to be explored are:  What is the mediator’s responsibility when two belligerents conclude a peace agreement to the detriment of a third?  Should mediators never be party to ‘ethnic cleansing’, even if it saves lives?  Is a fragile peace worth sacrificing justice for—or will that sacrifice fuel another cycle of violence?

Pierre Hazan

Pierre Hazan is a prominent figure in conflict mediation and transitional justice. He serves as a Senior Advisor at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, advising on armed conflict mediation and collaborating with various international organizations, governments, and armed groups. 

His experience includes significant roles with the United Nations in the Balkans and involvement in the Basque conflict.

Hazan is the founder of JusticeInfo.net, a platform dedicated to transitional justice, and has curated a notable exhibition in collaboration with the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.  Additionally, he co-founded the International Film Festival on Human Rights in Geneva.

His academic credentials include fellowships at Harvard University and the United States Institute of Peace, along with teaching positions at various prestigious institutions.  Hazan has authored several influential books on topics such as transitional justice and international mediation, contributing significantly to the field's literature.

Hazan's work has earned him recognition and respect in international circles, underscoring his expertise and dedication to promoting justice and human rights globally.  His career is marked by a commitment to addressing the complexities of post-conflict societies and facilitating dialogue to foster peace and reconciliation.

This event is co-hosted with the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, the School of Law and the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast.