Here for the Right Reasons: The Selection of Women as Peace Delegates with Elizabeth Brannon, Indiana University

​​Elizabeth Brannon, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Indiana University, will discuss which women get a seat at the negotiating table, and why it matters. Since the passing of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security more than two decades ago, there has been a global push to bolster the inclusion of women in peace processes. When women are selected for peace delegations for the wrong reasons, they—like men—can hinder or stall progress. Yet, very little work has analyzed which women are included in peace processes, how they are selected, why they are selected, and how their individual experiences influence both their behavior and the outcomes of those processes. In this talk, Dr. Brannon considers common selection criteria used to identify participants and presents evidence of selection patterns in the Havana Peace Talks. Additionally, she presents preliminary findings on how selection patterns influence the subsequent implementation of peace agreements.Elizabeth Brannon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Indiana University. She has previously held positions as an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University and as a Post-Doctoral Fellow with a joint appointment at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and at Oxfam America. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University in 2021. Elizabeth’s research interests include gender, conflict, and post-war politics. Her work considers the determinants and effects of women’s inclusion in conflict and post-conflict processes, including rebel groups, peace processes, and women’s organizations. Her work has been published in the Journal of Politics, Journal of Peace Research, International Studies Review, Political Research Quarterly, Civil Wars, and PS: Political Science and Politics.  - - - - This event is co-sponsored by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School and the Program on Negotiation (PON) at Harvard Law School.​​Persons with disabilities who would like to request accommodations or have questions about physical access may contact Laura Botero at laura_botero@hks.harvard.edu or 617-384-7575 in advance of the program or visit.​