Global PeaceHub

We are an interdisciplinary research group exploring how fragmentation in the global order affects peace and transition processes. Our work focuses on understanding why and how third-party actors—state, intergovernmental, and non-governmental actors—intervene in peace efforts, and how they perceive their role in reducing conflict and preventing relapse. We also examine how local actors navigate this complex landscape of mediators and peacebuilders, and how these interactions shape conflict outcomes and post-conflict governance.

The project produces dedicated case and trends studies as part of the PeaceRep Global Transitions series and is developing two complementary datasets:

• Third Parties in Peace Agreements Dataset. Most formal agreements in peace processes are supported by parties external to the armed conflict, in the form of third-party signature to the agreement. In the PA-X collection of peace agreements that address inter- and intra- state, or mixed conflicts, around sixty percent of agreements feature a signatory which is not one of the main conflict parties, and around one-third of all agreements feature an international third-party signatory. The Third Parties in Peace Agreements dataset draws on the Peace Agreement Actors Dataset (PAA-X) and is the only existing data resource on third-party signatories in peace agreements. It allows for an in-depth examination of the patterns of engagement in peace agreements and provides valuable insights into what actors are necessary for conflict parties to commit to a formal, written agreement. This data is instrumental in discerning the regional and topical priorities of individual interveners since 1990, giving us insight into the types of agreements supported by individual third parties.

Cite Data as: Badanjak, Sanja; Henry, Niamh. (2025). Peace Agreement Actors Dataset (PAA-X), 1990-2023 [dataset]. University of Edinburgh. School of Law. https://doi.org/10.7488/ds/7932.

• Mediation Event and Negotiators Database (MEND) is a new and growing resource for researchers and practitioners with a focus on peace and conflict resolution. The dataset comprehensively covers broader peacemaking efforts within major armed conflicts, tracking all mediation and mediation-related events involving external third-party actors, regardless of whether these events result in a formal peace agreement. It captures mediation as part of formal peace initiatives and mediation efforts running in support or in parallel to these. Each record corresponds to a unique event, providing detailed metadata about location, third parties, local actors, and individuals involved. The MEND dataset facilitates a nuanced understanding of the roles various actors play in contributing to the peace processes and in brokering agreements. It also enables the identification of unsuccessful or spoiler mediation efforts that may still have influenced the ongoing conflict management. In an era marked by global fragmentation, this data plays a crucial role in providing insights into where, when, how, and why actors engage in mediation activities, allowing for the mapping of network dynamics between international and local actors, and identification of the mediation conditions conducive to the eventual signing of agreements.

Cite Data as: Peter, Mateja; Badanjak, Sanja; D'Amico, Elisa; Houghton, Kasia, 2025, "Mediation Event and Negotiators Database (MEND)", Harvard Dataverse, V1, https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/PYRHS6

Our research is supported by the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep), funded by UK International Development from the UK government. However, the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. We receive additional support from the Universities of St Andrews and Edinburgh.