The Role of Business in Peacemaking: Lessons from Cyprus, Northern Ireland, South Africa and the South Caucasus

A paper examining the important peacemaking role of business in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, South Africa and the South Caucasus.

Rather than attempt to draw parallels between these and other conflicts, the paper instead focuses on the different peacemaking approaches and specific activities that the business community undertook, or is undertaking, in each context. It considers what drove business to act and assesses what worked well and where lessons can be learnt for policymakers and others seeking to use economics in peacemaking.

Given the mission of The Portland Trust, it is hoped that the organisation and others can draw lessons from the paper, relating to the actions of business and the business community in conflict situations, which can be applied to the Middle East.