Discussion

In 2015, artists and peace mediation experts were involved in an initial exchange, which was hosted by the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva. The encounter focused on language and confidentiality in both professional fields, discussed possibilities for ‘moments of art’ in mediation processes, and developed some options for concrete collaboration.

This paper outlines the series of encounters that took place as part of the Art in Mediation initiative by the Swiss Foreign Ministry and is the summary chapter of the subsequently published book Arts in Peace Mediation. The text reflects on the ways in which the arts and psychology can enhance peace mediation processes and tackles questions such as: Where, in a peace process, is it best to integrate the arts? What would support such a process? What would support a mediator?

This text from 2021 seeks to align discussions that took place within the framework of the Arts in Peace Mediation initiative with contemporary global trends, and to identify potential prospects. Its reflections are based on a series of informal conversations with experienced mediators and arts practitioners, and on a rapid review of reports and ongoing research studies, including the consequences of the COVID pandemic on mediation and mediation support. It concludes that mediation practitioners might need to examine larger questions related to rapidly shifting social, economic, political and security environments for political mediation resulting from the changing nature of conflicts, issues around nationalism and sovereignty, the long-term impact of COVID-19, and climate change, among other salient topics. The text was published as a postscript to the 2021 book Arts in Peace Mediation.