China and Russia as peacemakers?

This month, University of St Andrews takes over as Chair of the Scottish Council on Global Affairs (SCGA), the only think-tank on international affairs in the UK outside of London. This roundtable, organised by the SCGA in partnership with the PeaceRep consortium, will bring together academic and policy experts to discuss emerging trends in China's and Russia's approaches to peacemaking. The event will explore the modalities in their approaches to conflicts and the impact of their strategies across various regions.

The increasing participation of non-Western actors in global peace efforts signals a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape. Once primarily led by Western nations and organisations like the United Nations, peace processes over the past decade have seen Russia and China rise as influential players.

Russia's role in conflict management across the Middle East and Africa, such as in Syria, Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic, reflects its global ambitions and influence in areas once dominated by Western powers. China's peacebuilding efforts are even broader. It plays a key role in diverse regions, from the Horn of Africa to Ukraine and Myanmar, with its role in the 2023 Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement showcasing its growing diplomatic clout in the Middle East.

Opening remarks for the event will be from Brad MacKay, Deputy Principal and Vice-Principal (International Strategy and External Relations) and the roundtable will be Chaired by Professor Juliet Kaarbo of the School of International Relations.

Contributors to the event are Monalisa Adhikari, Senior Lecturer at Stirling and lead on the PeaceRep Myanmar project, Sanja Badanjak, Chancellor's Fellow in Global Challenges at Edinburgh and PeaceRep Data Director, Kasia Houghton, PhD student at St Andrews and PeaceRep Research Fellow, Maija Paasiaro, Executive Director of the John Smith Trust, and Mateja Peter, Senior Lecturer at St Andrews, SCGA Executive Director, and Research Lead on the PeaceRep Global Fragmentation and Conflict Management project.

All welcome!