At the Heart of Conflict

A ground-breaking new book that dares to bridge the divide between peacemakers and military strategists.

As the world reels from an unprecedented surge in destructive wars and international crises, a new and critically important book challenges conventional wisdom and asks: Can peace be built by dialogue alone? When is the use of force necessary? Is there cause for hope? With 20 unflinching first-person accounts, the book uniquely gives voice to both sides of the conflict resolution debate from seasoned UN negotiators and grassroots peacebuilders to intelligence experts and military veterans.

This book is an essential read for those studying conflict resolution, international relations, or working in the field, looking to know more about the lived experiences of UN officials, translators, ambassadors, NGOs and military personnel.

edited and compiled by Cheryl Robson

Foreword by Oliver P Richmond

Introduction by Helen Kezie-Nwoha

Afterword by Jonathan Cohen

Reviews:

“At the Heart of Conflict: Talking Resolution is a profoundly hopeful book. In these pages, we hear directly from practitioners who have not only witnessed conflict but have actively worked to transform it. Their voices bring a rare depth and texture to our understanding of mediation and peacebuilding — grappling with the political conditions on the ground and reflecting on how those moments fit into larger historical arcs. These accounts offer more than technical and political insight — they remind us that in the midst of violence and fragility, there are always individuals building bridges, nurturing resilience, and creating space for hope.”

— Dr Christine Cheng, War Studies, King’s College London

“A fascinating insight into the challenging world of conflict resolution that is likely to be as relevant tomorrow as it is today.”

-York Membery, writer and journalist, Sunday Times.

About the authors:

Helen Kezie-Nwoha is a feminist scholar, peace-builder, and human rights advocate. She is the Founder and Lead Researcher at Researchers Without Borders and former Executive Director of the Women’s International Peace Centre. Her work spans Africa and beyond, providing strategic policy advice to regional institutions such as the African Union, on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

Professor Oliver Richmond is the founder of the MA in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manchester. He received the 2019 Eminent Scholar Award from the International Studies Association. He has worked closely with international organizations, including the UN, and civil society groups. His publications include The Grand Design: Peace in the 21st Century (Oxford University Press) and Peace in International Relations (Routledge)

Jonathan Cohen is Executive Director of Conciliation Resources, where he has supported dialogue and peacebuilding initiatives in contexts including the South Caucasus, Kashmir, the Philippines, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Papua New Guinea.
Previously he served as Deputy Director of the Foundation on Inter-Ethnic Relations in The Hague, and is an Associate of the Institute for the Public Understanding of War and Conflict at the Imperial War Museum.

Cheryl Robson is a writer, editor and filmmaker who was awarded a Special Jury Prize for peace for publishing 'The Arab-Israeli Cookbook' by Robin Soans and Claudia Roden. She has edited over 100 books and won many awards but is best-known for leading the campaign to erect a statue of Virginia Woolf on Richmond Riverside in England.