The Geneva School of Diplomacy, together with the Armed Groups and International Law Blog and Fight for Humanity, has launched a call for contributions for a new blog symposium titled “Diplomacy and Non-State Armed Actors: Negotiating in a Fragmented World.”
The symposium is edited by Dr. Jelena Aparac, Senior Academic and Programmes Coordinator at GSD, and Anki Sjöberg of Fight for Humanity.
Contemporary conflicts increasingly involve non-State armed actors that challenge traditional understandings of diplomacy, international relations and international law. Governments and international organisations may need to communicate or negotiate with actors they do not formally recognise, including groups designated as terrorist organisations.
At the same time, some non-State armed actors are developing political structures, external relations, negotiation teams and representatives capable of engaging with States, international organisations and mediators.
The symposium therefore asks an important question: what does diplomacy look like when the State is no longer the only significant diplomatic actor?
Contributions may explore themes including:
- Negotiating with non-State armed actors without conferring political recognition
- Back-channel diplomacy and engagement with designated organisations
- The diplomatic capacity and external relations of armed actors
- International law, legitimacy and political recognition
- The role of mediators and trusted intermediaries
- Humanitarian engagement and political dialogue
- Preparing armed actors for peace negotiations
- The future of diplomacy in increasingly fragmented conflicts
The call is open to diplomats and former diplomats, international lawyers, academics, mediators, humanitarian and peacebuilding practitioners, officials from international organisations, students, emerging scholars, and current or former members of non-State armed actors.
The organisers particularly welcome contributions that connect legal analysis with diplomatic practice, negotiation experience and the political realities of contemporary conflict.
Submission Information
Interested contributors should submit a proposed title and an abstract of no more than 300 words by 15 October 2026.
Following editorial review, selected contributors will be invited to develop their proposals into full blog posts.
Submissions should be sent to armedgroupsblog@gmail.com.
Read the complete call for contributions and submission guidance
