International Relations

The opening ceremony, a momentous occasion, was moderated by Dean Alpaslan Özerdem of the Carter School. This ceremony, attended by over 600 delegates and featuring esteemed dignitaries, including President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, was held under the theme of “Dialogue for Peace and Global Security: Cooperation and Interconnectivity.” The forum provided an exceptional platform to showcase the Carter School’s expertise in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, a testament to the school's significant contributions.

The Carter School has collected articles and seminars written and presented by our faculty to help researchers, peacebuilders, and knowledge seekers understand the scope and impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine. As new resources become available, they will be added to this page.

Helsing has taught a broad range of subjects, including conflict resolution, analysis of war and peace, negotiations, human rights and conflict, and international relations theory. Prior to joining the Carter School, he spent 23 years at the United States Institute of Peace, including as head of USIP’s Education and Training Department.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has not seen peace for more than three decades, but in November 2021, George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution helped the country take a leap in a hopeful direction.

In the province of South Kivu, the school gathered representatives from 21 armed groups, the Congolese government, military, police, intelligence services, religious leaders, civil society groups, and peace advocates. Not only did everyone discuss a path toward peacebuilding, but they also signed a peace accord to solidify it.