Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

08/17/2026

How do we construct effective peacebuilding futures in an era of intense socio-political polarization and institutional inertia? It starts by moving past the status quo.

Join the Kroc Institute Strategic Peacebuilding Academy (KI-SPA) for our 3rd annual gathering at the University of Notre Dame. This year's theme is Constructing Peacebuilding Futures.

In a time of rising polarization and resource constraints, KI-SPA 2027 brings together researchers, educators, trainers, and practitioners to co-create more effective strategies for peacebuilding. Through immersive programming—including a full-day "futures invention" exercise—participants will collaborate to bypass traditional boundaries, tackle emerging challenges, and design actionable futures for peace and justice.

Learn more and apply now: https://kroc.nd.edu/ki-spa

07/10/2026

El Instituto Kroc invita al lanzamiento de sus primeros informes territoriales (2016-2025). Conoce los avances, retos y análisis comparados de 4 subregiones PDET clave: Alto Patía y Norte del Cauca, Chocó, Sur de Tolima y Urabá Antioqueño.

Regístrese aquí: https://go.nd.edu/789913

06/30/2026

As Colombia ends its ninth year of implementation of the historic 2016 Final Accord, the peace process faces a critical milestone. Ahead of the upcoming presidential and congressional transitions, how can the remaining structural reforms be protected and accelerated?

The Peace Accords Matrix Barometer Initiative has released its latest policy brief that serves as an essential companion to aid the original report published in May. Synthesizing those core findings, the brief provides independent technical verification on the current status of implementation—including vital gender and ethnic approaches—and outlines strategic imperatives for this final phase.

Read the report now: https://go.nd.edu/3c79f5

06/24/2026

To build a lasting peace in Afghanistan, the UN must look beyond the Taliban. In a vital new op-ed, Aref Dostyar challenges the international approach to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) mandate renewal.

Dostyar argues that while UNAMA's continued presence is crucial for humanitarian aid, its diplomatic strategy suffers from a critical blind spot: the structural exclusion of Afghan political opposition and civic voices. By focusing engagement almost exclusively on the de facto authorities, the international community risks normalizing a unilateral regime and stalling true conflict transformation.

According to Dostyar, a sustainable future requires a re-engineered UN mandate—one that establishes formal, safe mechanisms to bring diverse Afghan stakeholders, women, and political opposition groups directly to the table.

Read his complete analysis on why inclusive diplomacy is the only viable path forward for Afghanistan:

The mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has faced serious criticism from various domestic factions as well as member states of the United Nations Security Council since the collapse of the republic. In March 2026, unlike previous practice, the mission’s mandate ...

06/20/2026

With news of a tentative deal to end the war in Iran, international law expert Mary Ellen O'Connell emphasizes that true conflict transformation cannot happen overnight. Because deep-seated distrust and volatile regional dynamics remain, O'Connell argues that a "staged approach"—where good-faith actions are met with strict, reciprocal steps—is the only viable way forward.

Read the full expert analysis on the fragile road to peace:

After President Donald Trump, Pakistani mediators, and Iranian officials said a framework has been reached for a deal to end the war in Iran, a Catholic expert in peacekeeping said that while there is cause for optimism, key obstacles remain.

06/19/2026

Can we achieve lasting peace through economic persuasion?

In his latest piece for The National Interest, foreign policy expert David Cortright argues that traditional, purely punitive sanctions aren't enough to secure a stable agreement with Iran. Instead, true diplomatic success relies on economic statecraft, balancing smart pressures with real economic incentives.

As a leading voice on nonproliferation, Cortright outlines how combining the "carrot and the stick" is the only proven path to bringing nations back to the bargaining table and preventing further conflict.

Read this essential analysis on the future of diplomacy and peacebuilding in the Middle East:

Sanctions removal and coercion alone are not likely to induce Iran to abandon or curtail its nuclear program.

06/04/2026

Last week, the Kroc Institute hosted its second annual Strategic Peacebuilding Academy, bringing together more than 60 mid-career practitioners, scholars, and policymakers from all corners of the globe.

Faced with complex global crises, this year's cohort leaned into a powerful and timely theme: "Modes of Healing." Together, we explored how arts, storytelling, ritual, and psycho-social trauma studies intersect with sustainable, long-term peace work.

A huge thank you to everyone who traveled to Notre Dame to share their expertise, and to our incredible keynote speakers—Fr. Emmanuel Katongole, Mike Wessells, and Layli Long Soldier—for grounding us in the deep connection between healing, kinship, and peace.

06/03/2026

A ceasefire without a clear political horizon is inherently fragile.

As regional dynamics shift between Israel, Lebanon, and Iran, peace mediation expert Laurie Nathan warns that temporary truces often function as strategic pauses to regroup rather than pathways to real peace. Lasting stability requires genuine political will and localized consent—not just short-term conflict management.

Learn more:

A truce isn’t necessarily doomed if the missiles are still flying. Here’s why.

05/22/2026

As we mark Memorial Day, it is vital to recall the holiday’s original historical intent: an effort to heal from the trauma of war and actively prevent its recurrence.

In a new analysis for Just Security, Visiting Professor Peter J. Quaranto explores why the imperative of building peace across polarized communities is so urgent today—and why it remains chronically underfunded and overwhelmed by a systemic push toward militarism.

Read More:

This Memorial Day is a good time for Americans to consider how to help mold a more peaceful future at home and abroad.

05/18/2026

The Peace Agreement Matrix Barometer Initiative has just released its tenth report on the status of the implementation of the Peace Agreement in Colombia. This report provides information on key milestones, challenges, and opportunities following nine years of implementation.

Read the executive summary now: https://go.nd.edu/230d0a