Oxford and the United Nations launch new Peace and Security Fellowship
The University of Oxford and the United Nations have launched a first-of-its-kind Peace and Security Fellowship to strengthen the future of UN peace operations at a time of rising global instability and growing pressure on multilateral security institutions.
Established by Oxford's Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR) in partnership with the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the Fellowship will bring serving UN practitioners to Oxford to undertake policy-relevant research on peacekeeping, conflict prevention and political missions.
The Fellowship's launch comes against a backdrop of renewed great-power competition, protracted conflicts, climate-related insecurity and rapid technological change - pressures that are testing the limits of existing multilateral approaches. It coincides with the anticipated publication next month of UN Secretary-General António Guterres's Review of the Future of UN Peace Operations, which is expected to set out wide-ranging recommendations on policy and practice. Implementing those recommendations will require sustained engagement beyond the UN system, including from the academic community.
During the eight-week programme, which began on Monday 27 April, ten UN Fellows from a range of professional backgrounds will step back from operational responsibilities to reflect on the strategic challenges facing contemporary peace operations. Supported by Oxford academic mentors from across disciplines, Fellows will receive dedicated time, research resources and scholarly guidance, and will share their findings at a closing seminar and in a final paper.
“The international environment in which UN peace operations operate has changed profoundly. Creating structured opportunities for practitioners to engage with rigorous academic research is essential if peace operations are to adapt to today's political and security realities.”
“The greatest strength of the United Nations is its people and the immense knowledge they carry. This fellowship offers our colleagues a unique space to reflect, refine and share those insights, and to help shape a more effective and forward-looking United Nations.”
The programme will culminate in a public lecture at Oxford on 18 June, delivered by Mr Lacroix, on the future direction of UN peace operations.
“By bringing UN practitioners into direct dialogue with researchers, we aim to generate fresh thinking on today's peace and security challenges. At the same time, our students and academics benefit enormously from insights shared by those working on the front lines of global peace efforts.”
The Peace and Security Fellowship is supported by a generous contribution from Sai Prakash Leo Muthu and Sairam Institutions, in honour of the late Leo Muthu, Founder Chairman of the Sairam Institutions.
Further information about the Fellowship and profiles of the ten UN Fellows are available on the DPIR website.
For more information about this story or republishing this content, please contact [email protected]
