Laurie Nathan

Laurie Nathan is a Professor of the Practice of Mediation and Director of the Mediation Program at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, part of the University of Notre Dame. His work focuses on mediation, conflict resolution, preventive diplomacy, and United Nations peacemaking, with a regional emphasis on African security.

• Education: PhD from the University of Cape Town.
• Professional Roles: Senior mediation advisor to the UN, UN Academic Advisory Council on Mediation (2012-18), and consultant to organizations including the African Union, EU, and OECD.

Research Interests:
His research spans international mediation, post-conflict constitutional design, and security sector reform. He explores tensions between local ownership and external intervention in peace processes, analyzing case studies like the SADC and IGAD mediations.

Recent Publications:
His 2025 article “Taking the bull by the horns” examines policy research in regionalized intra-state conflicts. Earlier works (2022-2023) critique UN mediation legitimacy, Arab World conflict resolution, and emotions in international mediation.