Mitchell Institute Participates in Inaugural Weatherhead Research Cluster Conference at Harvard

Over the course of two days it brought together researchers and practitioners engaged in designing, studying, and implementing interventions aimed at improving intergroup relations following violent conflict.  

The Weatherhead Research Cluster on Identity Politics is chaired by Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice Honorary Professor and Director of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Professor Melani Cammett. Mitchell Institute Honorary Professor of Practice, Professor Peter Sheridan CBE, was also one of the speakers at the event.  

The research cluster explores ways to improve intergroup relations in post-conflict countries by bringing together a network of scholars at all career stages from Harvard and other US – and globally based institutions who work on conflict, conflict resolution, and identity politics, including the Mitchell Institute at Queen’s.  

The research cluster will be active for at least the next three years, with plans for the conference to be hosted at Queen’s next year. 

The Mitchell Institute and the Weatherhead Centre are in the process of establishing a global scholars network to investigate questions related to peacebuilding and intergroup conflict. 

Mitchell Institute Director, Professor Richard English commented: “It’s very exciting to see this collaboration with the Weatherhead Center at Harvard proceeding so strongly. I’m grateful to Professor Cammett for her work in leading this important initiative, and it was very good that our Honorary Professor of Practice Peter Sheridan spoke at the recent Harvard Conference. Collaborative partnership of this kind is essential to the work of the Institute, and promises much for the future in terms of research and practice.”