PIN Workshop 2026: Rethinking Diplomacy and Negotiations in the Middle East
On 28 and 29 April, the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN), together with the GCSP, convened a two-day expert workshop on “Rethinking Diplomacy and Negotiations in the Middle East.” The workshop brought together leading scholars to explore how diplomatic and negotiation processes are evolving across the region. Discussions focused on key themes shaping contemporary Middle East diplomacy, including humanitarian diplomacy, arbitration, coercion, extractive diplomacy, mediation, and reconciliation. Academics also examined when peace talks risk triggering civil unrest and the challenges of managing spoilers and resolving deadlocks in negotiations. The output will be published as a special issue edited by Karin Aggestam and Sinisa Vukovic in a leading academic journal.
The contributing experts were (in alphabetical order):
1. Dr Karin AGGESTAM, Professor of Political Science, Lund University and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
2. Prof Guy Olivier FAURE, President, the Diplomatic School of Brussels and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
3. Dr Ibrahim FRAIHAT, Associate professor in international conflict resolution, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
4. Prof Fen Osler HAMPSON, Chancellor’s Professor and Professor of International Affairs, Carleton University and President, World Refugee & Migration Council, and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
5. Mr Joost HILTERMANN, Special Advisor for the MENA, International Crisis Group
6. Dr Paul MEERTS, Deputy General Director Emeritus of the Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael' and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
7. Dr Altea PERICOLI, Marie Sklodoska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, Princeton University
8. Prof Valerie ROSOUX, Professor in International Relations, University of Louvain and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
9. Prof Dr Rudolf SCHÜSSLER, Professor of Philosophy, University of Bayreuth and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
10. Prof Asaf SINIVER, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham
11. Prof Isak SVENSSON, Dag Hammarskjöld Professor in Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University
12. Prof Mikhail TROITSKIY, Visiting Professor, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
13. Dr Tobias VESTNER, Director of Research and Policy Advice Department, Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
14. Dr Siniša VUKOVIC, Senior Lecturer and Director of the Master of Arts in Global Policy, Johns Hopkins University and member of the Processes of International Negotiation (PIN) Program
15. Dr Lynn M. WAGNER, Senior Director of the Tracking Progress Program, International Institute for Sustainable Development and Co-Editor in Chief, International Negotiation. A Journal of Theory and Practice
16. Prof Marie-Joelle ZAHAR, Professor of Political Science, Université de Montréal
