Digital Disruption and Rethinking the ‘Script’ of Peace Mediation

Summary, in English

This article focuses on the quest for digitalisation in peace mediation and to the extent to which digital disruption is reshaping its practices. While digitalisation in the wider field of diplomacy has seen dramatic changes in its practices, peace mediation is a ‘latecomer’. The article explores the constitutive effects on specific norms and practices of peace mediation and identifies opportunities as well as the restraining and even counterproductive effects of digitalisation. Digital technologies, tools and social media platforms are mapped to assess their roles and impact on key practices and to critically analyse the digitalisation of peace mediation. Moreover, a content analysis of international strategic policy documents and central frameworks relevant for international peacebuilding operations is conducted, which shows that digitalisation has taken place gradually and cautiously. Since there are few theoretical and empirical studies on the digitalisation of peace mediation, the article concludes by suggesting three directions to be taken in future research.

• Author: Karin Aggestam; Elsa Hedling
• Department/s: Department of Political Science; Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES); MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
• Publishing year: 2023-05-12
• Language: English
• Pages: 84-114
• Publication/Series: The Hague Journal of Diplomacy
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 1
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1871191x-bja10158
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
• Topic: Political Science
• Keywords: peace mediation; digitalisation; diplomacy; conflict resolution; digital diplomacy
• Status: Published
• Project: Digital Diplomacy in a Turbulent Global World
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1871-1901