Workshop: “The Logics of War … and Peace”

Workshop: “The Logics of War … and Peace”

In times of conflict, people worldwide are generally united in calling for peace and condemning war. As genuine as the wish for peace may be, marching and slogans will not achieve it. Instead, peacemaking is a nuanced endeavor in which adversaries are often entrenched, seemingly incapable, or unwilling to move away from their positions. Calling for peace in such constellations can sometimes even provoke further aggression if seen as a sign of weakness. So, how do we bridge the chasm between warring factions to foster dialogue and forge solutions?

Through captivating examples, historic and contemporary, we will navigate the complexities of peacemaking, a far more daunting narrative than the tales of war. James Fearon (Stanford) will offer contemporary insights from the scientific discourse on peace. Following this, a roundtable discussion will bring together esteemed scholars and experienced practitioners to dissect the essential components of peace-making in its nitty-gritty reality.

Program:

14 November
14:30 – 16:00 | Ending Wars of Competitive Intervention
SPS Seminar by Prof. Alex Weisiger (Penn University)

17:00 – 19:00 | What is Contemporary Major Power Conflict About?
Vilfredo Pareto Lecture by Prof. James Fearon (Standford University)

15 November
9:30 – 16:45 | Unanswered Questions on Ending Wars
A roundtable discussion with an unusual format: speakers will take turns to debate a puzzling unanswered question about a peace process that either failed or succeeded – chaired by Prof. Andrea Ruggeri (University of Milan)
Panelists:
–Prof. Kristin M. Bakke (University College London)
–Prof. Jessica di Salvatore (University of Florence)
–Prof. James D. Fearon (Stanford University)
–Prof. Alex Weisiger (Penn University)

Organizers:
Daniel Auer (CCA), Diego Gambetta (CCA), Paolo Ghirardato (CCA and University of Turin), Andrea Ruggeri (University of Milan)