Publications and Videos

The Peace Project

  • The Author: Zona Zhou

    “The Peace Project” is an initiative by Zona Zhou from China and a US High School student. With her school, she had participated in an UISCE Peace Studies programme in Spring 2024 and returned in July 2024 as a junior Scholar to undertake “The Peace Project” - a series of video interviews with key community leaders from across the Irish political spectrum, exploring the historical and contemporary context of the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement. Its purpose is to help future UISCE students understand the Irish peace process and inspire innovative approaches to moving peace forward. The interviewees reflect on personal insights to the peace process that can encourage better understanding and conversations across diverse communities.

  • Bertie Ahern

    Former Irish Prime Minister / Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, talks about the Belfast Good Friday peace process and the need for leadership n Ireland in an interview with an UISCE volunteer.

    Click here to watch the full interview

    (For mobile users: swipe left or right to view more interviews, or tap the arrow below this section.)

  • Sean Lynch

    Seán Lynch, Irish republican Sinn Féin politician, former MLA, and former PIRA member, discusses his experience and outlines his vision for Ireland's peace centered around building a shared future.

    Click here to watch the full interview

  • Stephen White

    Former Deputy Chief Constable, FBI-trained Stephen White offers insights into the Northern Ireland peace process, emphasising the significance of remembrance and community leadership during a tumultuous period.

    Click here to watch the full interview

  • Paul, Lord Bew

    Paul Bew is a distinguished historian, author, and professor, as well as a member of the House of Lords. In this video, he discusses the impact of the Good Friday Agreement, the challenges faced by unionism after Brexit, and his vision for the future.

    Clik here to watch the full interview

  • Jim Brownlee

    In this interview, Jim Brownlee, Governor of the Apprentice Boys, discusses the future of unionism, community relationships after the Good Friday Agreement, and his vision for Northern Ireland's relationship with the United Kingdom.

    Click here to watch the full interview

  • Johnny Andrews

    In the final video of our series, Johnny Andrews discusses the journey from the Good Friday Agreement to current peace efforts, sharing realistic hopes and insights for the future.

    Click here to watch the full inter iew

Change and non violent resistance

Erica Chenoweth (Harvard University) analysed 323 nonviolent and violent political campaigns over the past 100 years and showed that when 3.5% of a population is engaged in social change, in a nonviolent manner, they have never failed. Chenoweth’s research also concluded that nonviolent campaigns were twice as likely to succeed as violent campaigns. Erica Chenoweth discusses the effectiveness of the 3.5% peaceful strategy in this TED Talk.

Explore more related content on the UISCE YouTube channel by clicking here

“The Peace Project” is an initiative by Zona Zhou from Shanghai and a student in California. 

Zona had previously, with her school, participated in Peace Studies programme with UISCE in Spring 2024 and returned in July 2024 as a junior UISCE Scholar to undertake “The Peace Project”. This series of video interviews with a selection of key community leaders from across the Irish political spectrum focuses on exploring the historical and contemporary context of the Good Friday / Belfast Peace Agreement. Its purpose is both to help future UISCE students better understand the Irish peace process as well as inspire innovative approaches to moving peace forward. The interviewees offer reflections on personal experiences and insights to the peace process that can encourage better understanding and considerate conversations across diverse communities.

 

Our Recent Articles

  • A History of Resistance.

    A brief consideration of Ulster as a place of resistance, The Laughter of The Gods explores Ulster’s history with the rest of Ireland.

    The Laughter of The Gods

  • Barriers in Education.

    Exploring the resistances to peace in secondary education. Compiled by UISCE Scholar, Neha Middela [Yale University] in consultation with Keith McNair [UISCE’s Director].

    Resistances to Peace

  • Brexit: A Blueprint for Peace?

    Not long ago, the notion of Brexit would have seemed wildly improbable. Today the EU-Brexit process points the way to achieving peace in Europe.

    Blueprint for Peace

A tour of our campus

The UISCE campus and conference centre (INTEC) are in the centre of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.

Our latest school programme

On March 31, 2024, UISCE welcomed and hosted the WEBB School from California, showcasing its commitment to providing a transformative educational experience in the peace process. Leaders, staff, and volunteers guided a group of 14 students through a ten-day program immersed in the rich culture and history of Ireland. Students were actively engaged in conversations about learning from the past and working towards a better future through dialogue and peace-building initiatives. This immersive experience at UISCE not only broadened students' perspectives but also fostered a deeper understanding of global citizenship and the power of cultural exchange.

The program itinerary specifically handcrafted for the Webb School.

Others interested in creating a program with UISCE will have a specifically curated program made to fit your needs.