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Mediating Agonistic Peace

Brundin, Eje LU (2022) FKVK02 20221
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Agonistic theory has expanded to many research fields including peace and conflict studies, but it has yet to be used in the study of mediation. This thesis aims to fill this void by exploring the theoretical agonism-mediation nexus. By using agonistic peace theory to perform a qualitative content analysis of the UN Guidance for Effective Mediation (GEM), a discussion on the theory’s relevance in the mediation profession is possible. To do this, the latent agonistic principles of inclusion, spaces for contestation and framing of mediation efforts are detected through repurposed analytical tools. The result is that the GEM corresponds to agonistic principles to a certain degree, but lacks in its dialogical approach and in a... (More)
Agonistic theory has expanded to many research fields including peace and conflict studies, but it has yet to be used in the study of mediation. This thesis aims to fill this void by exploring the theoretical agonism-mediation nexus. By using agonistic peace theory to perform a qualitative content analysis of the UN Guidance for Effective Mediation (GEM), a discussion on the theory’s relevance in the mediation profession is possible. To do this, the latent agonistic principles of inclusion, spaces for contestation and framing of mediation efforts are detected through repurposed analytical tools. The result is that the GEM corresponds to agonistic principles to a certain degree, but lacks in its dialogical approach and in a conceptualization of post-implementation peace. The thesis then addresses an agonistic mediation paradox of the finality of peace agreements from an open-oriented mediation process. It proposes a theoretical perspective on this paradox by developing Chantal Mouffe’s “moment of decision” as a multitude of moments in a mediation process that establishes conflictual consensus. As such, mediators can adopt a non-linear mediation design that allows for enemies to turn into adversaries. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Brundin, Eje LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20221
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
agonism, agonistic peace theory, mediation, UN guidelines, peace process
language
English
id
9081098
date added to LUP
2022-07-03 09:10:02
date last changed
2022-07-03 09:10:02
@misc{9081098,
  abstract     = {{Agonistic theory has expanded to many research fields including peace and conflict studies, but it has yet to be used in the study of mediation. This thesis aims to fill this void by exploring the theoretical agonism-mediation nexus. By using agonistic peace theory to perform a qualitative content analysis of the UN Guidance for Effective Mediation (GEM), a discussion on the theory’s relevance in the mediation profession is possible. To do this, the latent agonistic principles of inclusion, spaces for contestation and framing of mediation efforts are detected through repurposed analytical tools. The result is that the GEM corresponds to agonistic principles to a certain degree, but lacks in its dialogical approach and in a conceptualization of post-implementation peace. The thesis then addresses an agonistic mediation paradox of the finality of peace agreements from an open-oriented mediation process. It proposes a theoretical perspective on this paradox by developing Chantal Mouffe’s “moment of decision” as a multitude of moments in a mediation process that establishes conflictual consensus. As such, mediators can adopt a non-linear mediation design that allows for enemies to turn into adversaries.}},
  author       = {{Brundin, Eje}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Mediating Agonistic Peace}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}