Independent Experts’ Peace Initiative
In December 2024, the European Center for Democracy Development, together with the International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue - USA, announced the launch of the International Expert Peace Initiative. This is a voluntary public movement of experts from around the world specializing in the problem of resolving international conflicts.
Independent ExpertsPeace Initiative (IEPI) is an interdisciplinary network whose members specialize in conflict analysis, mediation, and resolution. Their expertise ranges from sociology to political science to economics and the humanities, and they work in universities, institutes, non-governmental organizations, and various advisory bodies. None are propagandists or in the pay of any government, and their vita are all available on request; IEPI is committed to transparency. It is thus important to note that the experts involved in this enterprise have very different political beliefs. Most likely, no contributor will agree with every statement, proposal, or suggestion of any given initiative. All of them understand that every “white paper” dealing with a specific conflict will synthesize many perspectives in order to provide a balanced analysis with multiple possible scenarios based on verifiable empirical data.
What Makes IEPI Unique: IEPI is neither a think tank, an advocacy group, a traditional non-governmental organization, nor a purely informal body that meets now and then. It is rather what we consider a mobile tool for dealing with conflicts as they arise in different parts of the world. As such, it can quickly present the synthesized opinions of authoritative researchers with expertise regarding the given crisis. Contributions from specialists from different backgrounds and with different political perspectives also allows us to consider the various nuances necessary to deal with the causes, scenarios, and possible solutions to the particular conflict in a balanced and sophisticated manner while highlighting it’s possible consequences for the region and the world as a whole.
IEPI’s Mobile Tool will prepare and regularly update a database of independent expert contributors for our specialized white papers. These experts will participate in IEPI survey questionnaires that speak to the complexities associated with any particular conflict. Thus, the structure of the questionnaire is flexible; its character will rest on the topic of inquiry and the client’s particular need. In all cases, however, consultation will take place with contributors in processing the results and issuing a final white paper. Only then will the promotion process begin with respect to sending it to potentially interested parties including think-tanks, activist bodies engaged in the crisis, government officials, media, and all interested parties.
IEPI is open to all independent experts with some academic or practical experience in dealing with particular crises and conflicts, but closed to those whose independence is compromised by external influences. Not all members of IEPI will participate in every white paper. Each study will be undertaken by those with the appropriate expertise.
IEPI has explicit goals: Its white papers are intended to help in providing peaceful resolution to international conflicts. They will provide clients of different sorts with independent “second opinions” that enable them to evaluate the information that they already possess, and compare it with those of “outsiders” in order to better decide on the appropriate policy choices. IEPI is ready to cooperate with all transparent organizations committed to furthering the cause of peace. We will always provide a mixed team of experts with different views, experiences, and backgrounds and synthesize their insights and investigations in balanced and nuanced reports in clear language that is available to non-experts and policy-makers seeking advice on how to resolve conflict and make the world a better place.
