معرفی
Simon J. A. Mason is a Senior Researcher and Head of the Mediation Support Team at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich. He has been working with the Mediation Support Project (MSP), a joint initiative between CSS and swisspeace supported by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), since 2005. Additionally, he has been involved in the Culture and Religion in Mediation project (CARIM), also supported by the Swiss FDFA, since 2011. Mason is a member of the UN and OSCE mediation rosters and serves as a senior advisor in the Master of Advanced Studies ETH Mediation in Peace Processes program.
Mason holds a doctorate in environmental science from ETH Zurich and is a trained mediator accredited by the Swiss Mediation Association SDM. His educational background combines scientific training with practical mediation expertise, allowing him to bridge technical and diplomatic aspects of conflict resolution.
Mason's research focuses on the application of mediation in complex peace processes, with particular attention to contexts where religious and cultural factors significantly influence conflicts. His work explores how mediation can effectively address security arrangements and navigate the complex relationship between environmental factors, natural resources, and conflict dynamics. Through extensive field experience in regions including Afghanistan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Libya, North Korea, Palestine, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, Mason has developed practical insights that inform his academic contributions to the field of peace mediation.
Mason has been actively involved in designing and delivering specialized training programs, including co-organizing the Peace Mediation Course for the FDFA and serving as a trainer in the annual UN Ceasefire Mediation Course and the Religion and Mediation Course. His practical experience spans conflict contexts worldwide, where he has facilitated workshops on conflict analysis, dialogue, negotiation, and mediation for diverse stakeholders including UN, OSCE, IGAD, and EU institutions.
As head of the Mediation Support Team at CSS, Mason leads a group dedicated to advancing the theory and practice of peace mediation. The team produces research, develops practical tools for mediators, and provides direct support to mediation processes worldwide. Under Mason's leadership, the team has established itself as a leading center for mediation expertise, particularly in the areas of ceasefire negotiation, religious dimensions of conflict, and the intersection of environmental factors with peace processes.
