The main conference building is the Hesburgh Center for International Studies (HC). Additional sessions and meals will take place in Jenkins Nanovic Halls (JN), which is immediately next door (to the south) of the Hesburgh Center. Sessions will take place in the Auditorium, C103, C104/5, and the Great Hall. In Jenkins Nanovic, meals will take place in the Forum (the main atrium, down the hall and to the left) and sessions will take place in 1030, which is adjacent to the Forum.
8:00 am – 9:00 am
Continental Breakfast (JN Forum)
9:00 am – 10:15 am
Session 10. Panel: “Peace and Economic Development” (HC C103)
Moderated by Clare Hill, University of Notre Dame
“Perils of Utilitarian Public Policies for Peacebuilding: Evidence from Pakistan”
Talha Ali Madni, University of San Diego
Public policies are believed to be crucial for achieving peace in any society. However, public policies driven by utilitarian principles can undermine peace, particularly in fragile and diverse countries. Utilitarianism emphasize actions or policies that maximize the collective welfare or utility of the majority, but often fails to address challenges posed by ethnic or regional heterogeneity. Though utilitarian policies may work in homogenous countries, they erode peace and development in heterogenous regions with strong ethnic or regional identities by deepening inequalities. Pakistan, a diverse South Asian country, offers a case study, where the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award– a utilitarian policy for dividing resources among ethnically heterogeneous provinces– has eroded peace and aggravated inter-provincial inequalities. NFC Award prioritizes resource allocation to the populous province of Punjab at the expense of lesser populated provinces like Baluchistan, resulting in poor socioeconomic indicators and fueling grievances and insurgency against the government. For heterogenous countries like Pakistan, policies rooted in Rawls’ concept of “justice as fairness”, which prioritize the disadvantaged ones over the welfare of the majority, offer a path to sustainable peace. Unlike utilitarianism, this approach ensures social cohesion and inclusive development— essential elements for establishing positive peace.
“Economic Empowerment as a Tool for Peace: Reducing IPOB Tensions Through Inclusive Development”
Damilola Sholademi, University of Massachusetts–Lowell
Economic empowerment plays a pivotal role in addressing sociopolitical grievances and fostering sustainable peace in conflict-prone regions. This paper explores the potential of economic inclusion as a strategic tool to mitigate tensions surrounding the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement in Nigeria. The study critically examines how the lack of equitable economic opportunities fuels separatist sentiments, advocating for inclusive development policies that prioritize marginalized communities in Southeast Nigeria. Drawing from interdisciplinary frameworks, the research integrates economic theories of empowerment, conflict resolution mechanisms, and peacebuilding strategies. Using empirical data and case studies from similar global contexts, the paper demonstrates that strategic economic interventions, including skill acquisition programs, entrepreneurship funding, and infrastructure development, can dismantle the socioeconomic inequalities driving IPOB’s appeal. The presentation emphasizes the need for a multi-stakeholder approach involving government agencies, civil society, and the private sector to create a comprehensive and sustainable economic inclusion model. By fostering trust and shared prosperity, this approach can bridge historical divides, reduce tensions, and establish a foundation for long-term peace and stability in the region.
“Christianity as an Agent of Economic Development in the Dominican Republic”
Melissa Mercedes Tejeda, Gordon College
The Dominican Republic is one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America, making it a promising case for studying the factors that have contributed to its sustained development. Christianity is the country’s most widespread religion, permeating the daily lives of its people in many ways. In this undergraduate thesis project, I journey to measure how the influence of Christianity has played a role in promoting the Dominican Republic’s exponential development. I created a framework to guide my research, which hypothesizes that Christian initiatives in 1) education, 2) social work, 3) community engagement, and 4) female empowerment are significant contributors to development in the country. Backed by historical analysis, my qualitative study interprets the perceptions and experiences of Dominicans of diverse backgrounds, giving them a voice to express what Christianity has meant to their personal development and the development of their communities. This project, conducted through interviews and surveys, collected responses from a variety of participants. After studying my findings, I have demonstrated that Christianity serves as a significant agent of development in the Dominican Republic.
Session 11. Panel: “Technology, Violence, and Peace” (JN 1030)
Moderated by Aria Bossone, University of Notre Dame
“Constitutional Harmony: Exploring Algorithmic Bias and Constitutional Reform”
Natasha Quinn, University of Hawai’i
This presentation explores the role of algorithmic decision-making in perpetuating social and political divisions, with a focus on its impact on constitutional protections, specifically the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. Through an empirical survey and legal analysis, I examine how algorithms, particularly in hiring, lending, and policing, contribute to civil unrest and inequality. The findings indicate a significant awareness gap among the public regarding the ways in which these algorithms may affect their lives. The paper concludes by proposing targeted amendments and regulatory reforms aimed at ensuring that algorithmic systems adhere to the constitutional principles of fairness, equality, and justice. Algorithmic decision-making systems increasingly influence vital areas such as criminal justice, education, and employment, yet they often perpetuate systemic biases, disproportionately harming marginalized communities. This presentation explores the intersection of algorithmic bias and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, advocating for a framework that aligns the interpretation of constitutional protections with the realities of artificial intelligence. Attendees will gain insight into how existing legal principles can address algorithmic discrimination while preserving innovation. The session will offer actionable strategies for policymakers and technologists to mitigate bias and foster equitable outcomes.
“Engineered Cruelty: Hitler and His Concentration Camps”
Andrew VanOverbeke, University of Notre Dame
Adolf Hitler was potentially the world’s most impactful and evil architect of destruction; however, he was not alone. Hitler’s concentration camp architects engineered a system to efficiently kill massive populations of people based on the requirements made by Hitler. Understanding Hitler as a customer in this context opens up the process of the camp’s creation to a new lens: an engineer’s. This presentation, provided by an undergraduate engineering and peace studies student, will outline the engineering design process and apply that to the system of concentration camps that Hitler directed. Attendees will develop an understanding of 1) the nebulous mind of an engineer and 2) how easily customer requirements can be interpreted for the purpose of evil.
“Power and Neutrality in Translation in Conflict Zones: The Human Experience vs. AI”
Caitlin Walsh, University of Waterloo
The topic I will be discussing is how the translation of language impacts conflict. Translators are often seen as playing a neutral role in conflict to the outside eye. In the role of many translators, they are not just translating words but also cultural contexts, meaning and emotions which can be misinterpreted if not done correctly. The effects of translation and interpretation are then exacerbated when documents are being translated in conflict areas where there is already tension. Translators in conflict areas have the job of conveying the words and the context but there is no general guideline on how to keep the message authentic but still deliver the meaning in a way that is understood in the new language. A question that can be posed is if translation goes beyond words and you are translating the emotions and culture intertwined with those words what kinds of ethical guidelines need to be considered and what are the consequences of translation? I am going to address the power dynamics that translators hold in conjunction with the rise of AI; raising the question of neutrality and power.
Session 12. Panel: “Gender and Queer Studies in Peace” (HC Auditorium)
Moderated by Olivia Anderson, University of Notre Dame
“Gender Networker: Community Building Practices of the Trans Masculine Community in the United States”
Eli Butler, Pace University
Trans communities across the globe have always been disproportionately subjugated and have, in recent years, become an increasingly focused target of institutionalized oppression and hatred. As a result of systemic persecution, trans communities have historically fostered tight knit and resourceful networks of care, support, and solidarity as a survival mechanism. As trans identity continues to become more visible in public spheres (a double-edged sword, really), different, more specialized forms of community-building have begun to emerge. These communities concentrate around, yes, continuing the demand for physical, emotional, and immediate survival needs, but also cultivating an environment where trans identity is celebrated and trans joy is centered. Within broader trans and LGBTQ+ spaces and existing scholarly research, unfortunately, there exists a contrast in the visibility and awareness of trans men and trans masculine identities, which is only intensified by intersectional factors such as race, class, and geography. These factors inform the ways in which trans masculine people navigate their identities and access resources, forming important questions around how they can affect the process of forging supportive networks. In this presentation, based on his capstone paper, Eli demonstrates how geographical context and differences in organizing styles affect the practices and outcomes of trans masculine community-building in the United States, and he explores this while centering trans masculine voices and experiences.
“Finding Peace in Transition: The Role of Chosen Family in Queer Resettlement Journeys”
Nemanja Demic, Arizona State University
Queer-identifying refugees are at heightened risk of experiencing ostracization from both their new community members and co-nationals in the resettlement process. Similarly, they are more likely to have lost all contact with family members as a result of their sexuality or gender identity. Thus, queer-identifying refugees have identified a fourth group from whom they can receive support navigating their resettlement, as well as with whom they can process their trauma: chosen families. Chosen families are kin-like and friendship-based units offering members mental and emotional support and logistical support in navigating their new surroundings. The chosen family model provides queer-identifying refugees a sense of self, community, and peace and thus can be adapted by service providers to increase the likelihood of successful outcomes in resettlement.
“My Whistle, My Voice: The Role of Grassroots Afro-Feminism in Collaborative Peacebuilding in Ethiopia”
Hasset Hailu, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary
This paper explores Fishkaye Dimtse (My Whistle, My Voice), a grassroots Afro-feminist initiative in Ethiopia that tackles gender-based violence (GBV) and public harassment. Using the whistle as a self-defence tool and a symbol of resistance, the campaign empowers women and girls to reclaim public spaces and advocate for accountability. Through the story of Tsega Belachew, a survivor of GBV who became an activist, the paper illustrates how the Fishkaye Dimtse movement worked to raise awareness about her captivity and advocated for her release, showcasing the power of grassroots campaigns in influencing global peacebuilding efforts. It posits that grassroots movements like Fishkaye Dimtse play a vital role in dismantling systemic violence and promoting lasting peace. Framed within a collaborative peacebuilding approach, the paper highlights the intersection of gender studies, human rights, and peace initiatives, aiming to inspire worldwide change through grassroots activism.
Session V3. Panel: “Creating Peacebuilding and Addressing Climate Crisis Through ‘Tandur Bareng’ in Rural East Java” (Virtual)
Muhamad Pramono, Satya Wacana Christian University
Ningsih Toruan & Alifatul Chasanah, Gadjah Mada University
This paper will examine the interfaith peacebuilding strategies in Rural East Java. This research is based on our explorations and findings from the “Tandur Bareng” activity held by a community that focuses on the peace issue called Gusdurian Tulungagung in East Java. One interesting key aspect we would like to highlight is that creating peacebuilding can be forested through simple actions, such as collective tree planting activity. One of the reasons why the Tandur Bareng or plant trees together initiative that was basically intended as an action to mitigate the climate crisis impacts, also serves as a means to fostering peacebuilding at the same time. The activity brings together participants from diverse religious backgrounds in Indonesia, including adherents and interfaiths leaders. Using qualitative approach and intersectional lens, this research explores the process of creating peacebuilding through collective tree planting activity. Furthermore, this research concludes that Tandur Bareng is not merely about planting trees but also nurturing peace and interfaith tolerance. Peacebuidling fostered by cultivating collective consciousness through the process of planting, eating, and chatting as joint activities in these activities.
10:15 am – 10:30 am
Break
10:30 am – 11:15 am
Session 13. Talk: “Necrotechnopower: Technological Mechanisms of Death and Power in Palestine” (JN 1030)
Aria Bossone, University of Notre Dame
In this paper, I present a new framework to explain and analyze Israeli networks of power over Palestinians. This framework, which I call necrotechnopower, uses Michel Foucault’s biopower, Donna Haraway’s biotechnopower, and Achille Mbembe’s necropolitics theories as foundational literature. This project will be organized into three questions: When? How? and Why? When did technology become a vital force in the necropolitics of Israel? How does Israel use technology to uphold this necrotechnopower (what mechanisms?)? And why does Israel harness its technological power over Palestine? Lastly, I am hesitant to frame technology as purely a mechanism of destructive power. Thus, as my last section, I hope to research the use of technology from the Palestinian lens, including as a means of resistance, activism, and preservation of collective memory.
Session 14. Talk: “Children and Collaborative Clarity: Peace Studies, Transdisciplinarity, and Violence Against Children” (HC C103)
Camden Robertson, University of Notre Dame
Scholars and practitioners addressing harm against children are well-versed in the reality that institutions and systems frequently disadvantage children. But theory and practice targeted at addressing this disadvantage have unintentional but deeply embedded systems of hierarchy and oppression that recreate and reembody conditions that fundamentally disempower children. This project takes a critical position on the status of peace studies literature on the topic of violence against children as well as the standard ontological logic and analytical trajectory associated with using children as a unit of analysis. Using intersectionality as praxis, this study reveals the ways in which peace studies has insufficiently articulated the power entanglements associated with age. Comprehensive research addressing abuse and neglect of children from within the family unit is particularly deficient. The solution for better serving children at the intersection of harm, I argue, can be found in cultivation through greater transdisciplinary encounter between peace studies, developmental psychology, anthropology, and trauma studies. Through collaborative clarity, systems that impact children can be more readily understood and positively transformed.
Session 15. Talk: “The Philosophy of Creativity: How to Create a Civic Engagement Framework for Peace” (HC Auditorium)
Ryan Christman, University of Dundee
This doctoral dissertation, The Philosophy of Creativity, will be a philosophical framework for civic engagement for practical application. It advances the belief that a culture of meaning and fulfillment is the best way to achieve peace. I argue that a balance of Deleuze’s logic of difference and traditional logic can achieve the desired peacebuilding outcome. I intend for the resulting logical principle, the Creative Exchange, to form the basis of an interdisciplinary education-based peacebuilding non-profit following graduation. The Creative Exchange introduces a three-stage logic that not only separates, but also unifies. The first stage is essence, which is the traditional manner of thinking of defining objects and their core characteristics. In this way, we try to isolate the truth. The second stage is separation, the act of separating ourselves from the reality we desire. When we try to conceptualize rationally objective goals, we are abstracted from the reality of the situation. The desire to achieve an objective essence is a primary factor in the development of tension and conflict. The third stage is resolution. In this way, peace is not an object you achieve, but rather a holistic flexibility to constantly gain meaning and fulfillment through continuous learning.
Session V4. Talk: “Empowering Child Abuse Survivors through Art: Healing Trauma and Developing Skills” (Virtual)
Gubat Abdullaev, University of Oxford
The presentation will detail “Empowering Child Abuse Survivors through Art” project, which was initiated in Baku, Azerbaijan, as a Davis Project for Peace fellow. This fellowship awarded me $10,000 to coordinate a project that utilizes art therapy for the healing and skill development of child abuse survivors. In peacebuilding, while efforts typically focus on rescuing children from ongoing physical and psychological violence, the crucial steps of rehabilitation and reintegration are often overlooked. This project addresses this gap by incorporating therapeutic and developmental strategies that foster long-term recovery and social reintegration. Professional-led creative workshops in art and creative writing provided survivors with mediums to express their trauma and build emotional resilience. Tailored psychological support sessions offered coping strategies and helped in developing self-regulation, while community activities connected the children to Azerbaijani cultural heritage, reinforcing community ties. This multifaceted approach not only facilitated trauma recovery but also equipped the children with critical life skills, enhancing their well-being and aiding their reintegration into society. The presentation will outline the project’s structure, the adaptive measures to meet diverse needs, and the significant positive outcomes, as the session aims to highlight the transformative potential of art therapy in trauma intervention and advocate for its broader application in peacebuilding efforts globally, emphasizing sustainable impacts on individual and community levels.
11:15 am – 11:30 am
Break
11:30 am – 12:45 pm
Session 16. ND Faculty Roundtable: “Democracy, Censorship, and Academic Freedom: How Did We Get Here, and Where Are We Going?” (HC Auditorium)
Dr. Pam Butler, Gender Studies
Dr. Ann Mische, Sociology / Kroc Institute
Dr. Atalia Omer, Kroc Institute
Academia in the United States is in uncharted territory. Recent censorship of academic freedom on university campuses across the United States has raised questions of democracy and censorship, and challenged our understanding of the current dynamics between the university institutions and the U.S. Government. The cancellation of Dr. Eman Abdelhadi’s scheduled keynote address at the Notre Dame Student Peace Conference presents a teachable moment for us as young scholars. What are the underlying causes of this current moment, and where do we go from here? In this plenary session, conference chairs Evie Garces-Foley and Aria Bossone will sit down with faculty from the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Notre Dame’s Gender Studies Program for a robust and constructive dialogue on this challenging moment in history.
12:45 pm – 2:15 pm
Conference Lunch (JN Forum)
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
Session 17. Talk: “The Nexus of Gender, Peace, and Water During Conflict: How Can Women Contribute to Peace in Yemen?” (HC C103)
Dakota Freel, Saint Mary’s College
Yemen is mired in one of the worst humanitarian crises on the planet. Water has been weaponized throughout the civil war, with direct targeting by opposing forces and ineffective management from governmental policies. Women are uniquely affected by the lack of access to water, often having to sacrifice education due to the lengthy process of water acquisition and facing increased rates of gender-based violence. Research has shown that the involvement of women in water resource management and peacebuilding leads to longer lasting peace and greater women’s empowerment. Aid organizations play a pivotal role in mobilizing women’s empowerment, through addressing the nexus of water, gender, and peacebuilding. My research identifies the objectives of Yemeni aid organizations and gauge current engagement in the gender-water-peacebuilding nexus. I used content analysis to derive conceptual themes from the mission statements of 19 organizations. For each, I identified actual projects and target populations served. Using a qualitative social network analysis tool (Net.Create), I found that while none of the organizations include all three nexus components in their mission statements, analyzing their actual projects reveals potential for impactful collaboration. Ultimately, I recommend potential coalitions to enhance unified efforts within the nexus of gender, peacebuilding, and water.
Session 18. Performance: “Movement Vocabulary” (HC Auditorium)
Piyusha Sumanapala & Shokhinakhon Bakhromova, University of Notre Dame
Dance, at its core, is a dialogue between the body and the world. It inherently makes use of the environment, the human body, and the resonance generated between them. Traditionally, ‘music’ within this context can encompass a wide range of sounds: from ambient noise and human speech to rhythmic pulse of nature, chants of religious ceremonies, and expressions of community gatherings, both joyous or sorrowful. This project poses a question: What if all we received from the environment, instead of music, were stories of lived suffering? Would we cease to breathe, to move, to live? Would we stop dancing? Our answer, embodied in this dance project, is a resounding ‘no.’ We believe that movement continues, even in the face of immense adversity. Even when confronted with the constant barrage of news about human suffering, we can find ways to move – not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually, evolving into a language of resistance. This project will delve into the profound connection between personal narratives of lived experience and the creation of dance as a form of resistance. This ‘productive existential engagement’ will explore how individuals’ stories of oppression and resilience can be transformed into powerful and evocative movements, and a call for action.
Session 19. Roundtable: “One-State, Two-State, Altered States: Can Psychedelics Build Peace in Israel-Palestine?” (JN 1030)
Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, Destiny Magnett, & Paul Gillis-Smith, Harvard Divinity School
In the territories of Israel and Palestine, clinical researchers are turning to psychedelics as a tool for peacebuilding. This paper presents a tour of these psychiatric-turned-revolutionary/revelatory interventions through three case studies: ayahuasca circles for dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis, MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD afflicting the Israeli military, and the psychedelic self medication of Israeli soldiers following their service. In these settings, the religious identity of psychedelic users is salient, and religious experience and insight is mobilized towards healing. This paper offers questions around the decolonial and ethical considerations of ayahuasca use, given its deep connections to Indigenous and mestizo traditions of South America, and begins to explore whether psycho-social interventions might contribute to imagining new paths towards peace. In that vein, the paper acknowledges, interrogates, and critiques the inherent power differential between Israeli citizens, Palestinian citizens of Israel, and West Bank ID-holders exacted by colonial violence. Further, the paper begins to sketch a new view of psychedelics for their potential as a “disembodied peacemaker,” and considers the extent to which psychedelics can be directed towards peacebuilding efforts. Ultimately, this project furnishes an introduction to understudied questions of psychedelics for revolutionary projects, collectivist healing, and ameliorating the harms of state violence.
Session V5. Talk: “Trust Governance—The ‘No-State’ Solution” (Virtual)
Sofia Collin, Unbounded Law
The Issue: Certain lands have been in dispute for decades, if not for centuries; parties that dispute control, ownership, or superior connection to land, have caused war, conflict, and devastation to peoples that have lived upon them. The proposed solution to this problem is not to form new governmental ownership, or deem a particular party victorious or righteous in the conflict, and thus, yield to their statehood and government—but, I propose, the anthesis; the land could be placed in trust, and administered by the parties to the conflict, in addition to neutral trustees, for the benefit of the people. The Solution: The “No-State” Solution entitled Trust Governance, draws on the essential elements of the trust (which holds and administers an estate for the benefit of its beneficiaries), to construct a modified irrevocable trust to hold disputed lands for the benefit of the people, which is administered by both the original parties to the conflict (those claiming sacred right and connection with the land) as Grantors and “Interested” Trustees; “Independent” Trustees are selected by the Grantors to assist in the administration of the Trust Governance, offering stability, impartiality, and specialized knowledge for the benefit of the beneficiaries, the people.
3:00 am – 3:15 am
Break
3:15 pm – 4:30 pm
Session 20. Panel: “Peace and Nonviolent Activism” (JN 1030)
Moderated by (TBD)
“Building International Solidarity: Western Saharan Resistance to Colonialism”
Siena Mann, University of Notre Dame
International solidarity efforts have played an important role in the success of struggles for self-determination for colonized peoples, from East Timor to South Africa. This paper looks at the contemporary efforts to build international solidarity in support of the anti-colonial struggle in Western Sahara. In the presentation, I will explore how political conditions shape the struggle for Western Saharan self-determination and contextualize the possibilities and limitations of political solidarity in 2025. In particular, I analyze the long-standing program Vacaciones en Paz, which brings Sahrawi refugee children to southern Spain during the heat of the Saharan summer to receive routine medical attention and develop ties with Spanish host families. How has Vacaciones en Paz generated solidarity in support of the ongoing Sahrawi struggle against Moroccan colonialism? I will present reflections from my field research in the Sahrawi Refugee Camps in Tindouf, Algeria where I interviewed participants in the Vacaciones en Paz program and leading solidarity activists, and I will explore some of the strategies used by activists to resist their peripheralization and marginalization.
“Building an Anti-War Movement: Reflections on the 2024 Palestinian Solidarity Encampments”
Coby McKeown, University of Notre Dame
The Palestinian solidarity encampments that occurred on American university campuses and across the world in April and May of 2024 emerged as among the largest anti-war student movements in the last few decades. This presentation is the result of several in-depth interviews with students involved in these demonstrations. The student activists fought not just for absence and divestment from the conflict––a negative peace––but explicitly rallied for and promoted forms of positive peace by adopting a decolonial and anti-imperialist lens in order to connect the conflict to justice-oriented struggles across the globe. The encampments themselves were also an active experimentation in peace- and world-building, by challenging and offering alternatives to the pedagogies of universities and the hierarchical structures of modern society. The retaliatory brutality from police and institutions that aggressively shut down the encampments is also examined as a case of cultural violence, legitimizing and normalizing the physical and psychological harm that universities directly inflicted upon their students. Finally, the activists offer critiques of mistakes and lessons that were gained in the encampments, providing valuable insights into future direct action for anti-war and peacebuilding movements.
“Make a Joyful Noise: The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Hope and Joy in Nonviolent Activism”
Marlene Thomas, Pace University
What does it look like to approach nonviolence from a place of hope and joy instead of anger or pain? In the field of Peace and Justice Studies, nonviolent movements have often been examined in research and everyday conversations through lenses of pain, rage, and damage. Hope and joy are not new concepts to non-violent activism and have been drawn on by many activists, but rarely are not seriously engaged with alongside each other or as a motivating factor, a framework, and a tactic. Through an ethnographic case study of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, I explore The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a group of queer nuns working to promulgate universal joy and expiate stigmatic guilt. Hope and joy are a central factor in the nonviolent work done by the queer activists in the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. In order to understand how hope and joy transform their work, I draw on literature and theory to analyze my findings from both primary and secondary data from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. I argue that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence demonstrate that hope and joy can be utilized in non-violent in three important ways; as a motivating factor, a framework, and a tactic.
Session 21. Panel: Environmental Conflict and Peacebuilding (HC Auditorium)
Moderated by Evie Garces-Foley, University of Notre Dame
“The Battle for Conservation: Conflict During National Park Creation and Why it Matters Today”
Hayden Kirwan, University of Notre Dame
Throughout the 1930s, the National Park Service evicted hundreds of Appalachian families to create Shenandoah National Park. A tenuous, decade-long process created violent and nonviolent resistance, and turned neighbors against each other. These stories exist in a broader historical context of the controversies surrounding national park creation. Using original historical research on the creation of Shenandoah as a case study, this presentation describes the violence, forced removals, and racism behind “America’s best idea.” It enters the intersection of history and peace studies, acknowledging a rigorous understanding of the past as essential to forging a peaceful and sustainable future. As the case study of Shenandoah illustrates, knowledge of conservation history specifically can serve as a powerful tool for environmental peacebuilding.
“The Military Industrial Complex and the Environment: Peacebuilding as an Ecological Necessity”
Katherine McCormick, Loyola University Maryland
This presentation examines the relationship between the Military Industrial Complex (MIC), environmental degradation, and its ethical implications. The presentation is composed of three parts; The Military Industrial Complex (MIC), The Environment and the MIC, and The Ethics of the MIC. It analyzes the Global War Economy and economic reliance on perpetual war and conflict, global military operations as a cause of environmental degradation, and the structures that allow these systems to operate. Because of the mass environmental destruction from global military operations, without peacebuilding the climate crisis cannot be effectively approached. Solutions to the environmental crisis must involve conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and a dismantling of the global war economy to combat military operations because of the high amounts of environmental degradation they cause. This presentation argues for peace as an ecological imperative, underscoring the inseparability of environmental and social justice. The MIC’s unchecked power underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift. Without addressing its pervasive influence, efforts to combat climate change and foster global equity remain futile.
“Peacebuilding in a Climate Crisis: Addressing Inequality, Violence, and Displacement”
JD Sniegocki, University of Notre Dame
Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, exacerbating natural disasters, water and food scarcity, and contributing to social instability. From intensifying wildfires and floods to causing droughts which lead to famine and resource conflicts, its impacts are both widespread and deeply inequitable. Tragically, those who suffer the worst impacts of climate change are often those who have contributed the least to this problem and face disproportionate hardships with limited capacity to adapt. This presentation will examine the history of climate change and how we got here, as well as the ongoing and future impacts of climate change, such as food shortages, increasing poverty and inequality, climate refugees, increased spread of disease, and violent conflicts. The presentation will then focus on current environmental peacebuilding efforts at local levels. It will also highlight the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable and integral human development, as well as what can be done at an individual and community level to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Session 22. Panel: Narrative, Storytelling, and Perspective (HC C103)
Moderated by Oksana Ivantsiv, University of Notre Dame
“Breaking Silence: Gaël Faye’s Polyphonic Storytelling as a Pathway to Peace”
Morgane Cuoc, University of Notre Dame
Gaël Faye’s literary and musical work provides a compelling example of how creative expression can serve as a powerful tool for peacebuilding. Faye’s latest novel, Jacaranda (Prix Renaudot 2024), explores themes of silence, trauma, and reconciliation through the journey of Milan, a young man uncovering his family’s past and confronting the legacy of the Rwandan genocide. This presentation argues that Faye’s polyphonic storytelling functions as a form of collaborative peacebuilding, bridging generational and cultural divides to inspire collective healing. Drawing on his dual career as a novelist and musician, Faye weaves a vibrant sonic universe into his storytelling, where rhythm, song, and oral traditions counterbalance silence and trauma. Faye’s work demonstrates how literature and music can illuminate the root causes of conflict while promoting pathways to understanding. Jacaranda transforms silence — a recurring motif representing trauma and loss — into an opportunity for dialogue and intergenerational repair. Through Milan’s quest to break his family’s “pact of silence,” Faye highlights the importance of uncovering untold histories to restore dignity and foster empathy, and how art can empower marginalized voices. Ultimately, this session invites participants to reflect on the ways in which creative expression can serve as a tool for consolation and conciliation, dignity, and peacebuilding.
“Simple Terms? Disparate Narratives Surrounding Amnesty in Post-Conflict Northern Ireland”
Clodagh McEvoy Johnston, University of Notre Dame
The preeminent Peace Studies literature dictates that conditional amnesty is among the most beneficial tools for moving a society from a condition of conflict to a state of ‘post- conflict.’Yet, in an exploration of this literature, this author finds that the voice of victim- survivors is almost entirely absent. In response to that major lacuna, this presentation explores the diversity of narratives amongst victim-survivors and stakeholders in Northern Ireland regarding the use of conditional amnesty through the United Kingdom’s Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act of 2023. Through an analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with stakeholders in Northern Ireland in the summer of 2024, the primary goal of this presentation is to amplify the voices of victim-survivors who endured more than thirty years of bloody sectarian violence now known as ‘The Troubles.’ This author argues that the conditional amnesty stipulations in the Legacy Act force victim-survivors into a convoluted form of cooperation with their perpetrators, which strips victims of their retributive desires, forces them to be complicit in their perpetrators’ impunity, and debases the rule of law in Northern Ireland. Through a presentation of her work, this author hopes her audience questions traditional scholarship and recenters the victim-survivor in their ensuing work.
“Epistemologies of Peace: Centring Local Perspectives on Liberal Peacebuilding”
Antje Schiller, Victoria University of Wellington
Epistemologies of Peace explores the impact of cultural perspectives on peacebuilding efforts in Iraq, focusing on the limitations of Western frameworks that have traditionally dominated post-conflict interventions. While Western peacebuilding models, based on liberal ideals of democracy and human rights, have shaped international efforts, they often fail to align with local cultural and societal realities. By centring local perspectives on concepts of peace and social cohesion, this study argues for the integration of local values, traditions, and epistemologies in the peacebuilding process. Through a comparative analysis of Western and Iraqi approaches, the research seeks to identify points of convergence and divergence, offering strategies for adapting international frameworks to better align with local needs. The presentation will highlight the objectives and rationale of the project, its methodology, and the anticipated contributions of the research. The session will also provide an opportunity to engage in dialogue and receive feedback to refine the project as it moves forward.
4:30 pm – 4:45 pm
Break
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm
Session 23. Closing Remarks (HC Auditorium)
Aria Bossone and Evie Garces-Foley, 2025 Conference Chairs, will share their impressions and key takeaways from the conference and offer closing thoughts.