Deadline:
January 30, 2026
Program Starts: March 25, 2026
Program Ends: March 27, 2026
Location(s)
Switzerland
The course will take place at kHaus, a dynamic urban meeting place and cultural center situated in the heart of Basel along the picturesque Rhine River. Conveniently situated, the venue is easily accessible via public transportation, merely a 15-minute journey from the Basel SBB train station.
Overview
Details
Different societies face deep political crises, unproductive dialogues between government and opposition groups, major challenges in reaching broad social consensus, frequent waves of citizen protests, or even violent and armed conflicts. Managing these scenarios requires special skills. The multiplicity of actors and issues, as well as phenomena such as the interconnectedness between them and the unpredictability of outcomes, require the use of tools developed for the study of complex systems. These tools provide the basis for analysing the current situation, preventing the emergence of new crises and establishing a working relationship between the conflicting parties in the future.
By combining theoretical elements, experiences from different conflict contexts such as Colombia, Afghanistan and South Sudan, and practical methods, this course aims to discuss key tools for dealing with and negotiating in complex political contexts.
- Become familiar with a varied set of tools in conflict resolution;
- Identify elements that should be incorporated in a sound conflict analysis;
- Approach political crises strategically;
- Go beyond the zero-sum approach that characterizes many conflicts and develop a longer-term perspective in the relationship between the parties involved;
- Exchange experiences and become part of a community of practice.
Experts:
- Dr. Julián AREVALO, Senior Fellow, Mediation, swisspeace (Course Lead)
- Kathrin DÄPP, Senior Program Officer Mediation, swisspeace
- Dr. Martina SANTSCHI, Senior Researcher and Senior Program Officer, swisspeace
- Katrina ABATIS, Senior Program Officer, Mediation Support Team, Center for Security Studies
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
This course is designed for:
- Professionals who would like to improve their negotiation and/or mediation skills.
- Practitioners and academics interested in complementing their own experiences with current conceptual insights, practical knowledge and recent developments in the field.
Candidates must have:
- a university degree in a related discipline such as political science, law, economics or sociology
- at least two years of professional experience
- a good command of English.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide scholarships for this course. Participants (or their employer) must be able to cover the tuition fee.
Dates
Deadline: January 30, 2026
Program starts:
March 25, 2026
Program ends:
March 27, 2026
Program Starts: March 25, 2026
Program Ends: March 27, 2026
Cost/funding for participants
TUITION FEE: 1,700 CHF
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
