Anthony Wanis-St. John Assoc Professor School of International Service
- Degrees
- Ph.D., International Relations, Tufts University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
Certificate in Strategic Management and International Consultancy, Tufts University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
M.A.L.D., Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
B.S., Human Services, St. John’s University, magna cum laude - Languages Spoken
- Spanish, French, and a bit of Arabic
- Favorite Spot on Campus
- Spot where JFK gave the 1963 Commencement Speech and announced nuclear test ban negotiations
- Favorite Place in Washington DC
- Lincoln Memorial
- Book Currently Reading
- Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces
- Bio
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Anthony Wanis-St. John is the author of Back Channel Negotiation: Secrecy in Middle East Peacemaking (Syracuse University Press, January 2011), and with Noah Rosen, the coauthor of “Negotiating Civil Resistance,” Peaceworks Vol. 129 (2017), USIP Press. He directed the M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from 2013 to 2016.
His research, practice and teaching focus on negotiations in zones of conflict; including peace processes, ceasefires and civil society engagement. His practical experience includes Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. Since 2010 he has supported the Department of Defense and the United States Institute of Peace in the preparation of military and civilian advisors deploying to Afghanistan, Ukraine, Georgia and other countries. In 2016 he co-facilitated the strategic review session of USAID/OTI’s countering violent extremism portfolio in Nigeria. In 2015 he worked with the National Democratic Institute to advise Syrian civilian opposition groups exiled in Turkey on having a unified posture with regard to the Syrian government, and to build the negotiating capacity of Syrian local councils. He has facilitated several Track II workshops for Palestinian and Israeli official negotiation staff and advisors.
He has successful experience mediating disputes within federal agencies and corporations, as well as mediating labor contracts and disputes within the education sector in the US. Dr. Wanis-St. John has also consulted with the World Bank and USAID on rule of law programs in countries such as Bolivia, Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela and El Salvador.
His research appears in outlets such as Journal of Peace Research, Negotiation Journal and International Negotiation
- See Also
- 2022 edition of Contemporary Peacemaking
- My ResearchGate Profile
- My book on secret negotiation in the Middle East Peace Process
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
Teaching
Summer 2022
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SIS-730 Skills Inst in Int'l Affairs: Exped Civil-Military Interactn
Fall 2022
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SIS-611 International Negotiation
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SIS-611 International Negotiation
Spring 2023
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SIS-611 International Negotiation
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SIS-619 Special Studies in Int'l Pol: Comparative Peace Processes
Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities
Selected Publications
Books | Edited Volume (Refereed) | Book Chapters | Journal Issues - Guest Editor | Refereed Journal Articles | Non-Refereed Journal Articles | Research Reports | Reviews and Review Essays | Research Monographs | Peer-Reviewed Policy Papers and Publications | Pedagogy
Books
Edited Volumes
- Contemporary Peacemaking: Peace Processes, Peacebuilding and Conflict, with Roger Mac Ginty. 3rd edition. (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022)
- Conflict Prevention and Management in the New Security Context: Case of Macedonia, with M. Mitrevska, A. Grizold, V. Buchovski (Open Society Institute, 2009) (Table of Contents; Chapters 1 and 9)
- In Macedonian
Book Chapters
- "The Intermediation of Turkey and Brazil between Iran and the Western Powers," with Arunjana Das, in Doga Ulas Eralp, ed. Turkey as Mediator: Stories of Success and Failure (Lexington Books, 2016)
- “International Conflict Resolution: From Knowledge to Practice and Back Again,” with Suzanne Ghais, in P. Coleman, M. Deutsch, and E. Marcus, eds.The Handbook of Conflict Resolution 3rd ed. (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2014), Ch. 56.
- “Indigenous Peacebuilding,” in Roger Mac Ginty, ed., Routledge Handbook of Peacebuilding (London: Routledge, 2013), Ch. 28, pp. 360 - 374
- “Nuclear Negotiations: Iran, the EU (and the United States),” in G. Olivier Faure, ed., Unfinished Business: Saving International Negotiations From Failure (University of Georgia Press, 2012).
- “Structural Dimensions of Negotiations That Do Not End in Agreement,” with the late Christophe Dupont, in G. Olivier Faure, ed., Unfinished Business: Saving International Negotiations From Failure (University of Georgia Press, 2012).
- “Ancient Peacemakers: Exemplars for Humanity,” in Susan Allen Nan, Andrea Bartoli, Zachariah Mampilly, eds. Peacemaking: From Practice to Theory (Praeger, 2011), pp. 563-581.
- “Cultural Pathways in Negotiation and Conflict Management,” Chapter 8 in Michael Moffitt and Robert Bordone, eds., Handbook of Dispute Resolution (Jossey-Bass, 2005), pp. 118-134.
Journal Issues - Guest Editor
Refereed Journal Articles
- "Fumbling Abdication: Make America Diplomatic Again," Negotiation Journal vol. 35, no. 1 (2019): 107-110
- "Impediments to trade across the Green Line in Cyprus: The role of classic barriers and trust," with Omer Gokcekus, Dennis Nottebaum and Jessica Henson, Journal of Peace Research, vol. 49, no. 6 (November 2012)
- “Civil Society and Peace Negotiations: Confronting Exclusion,” International Negotiation, vol. 13, no. 1 (2008), with Darren Kew.
- “Back Channel Negotiation: International Bargaining in the Shadows.” Negotiation Journal, vol. 22, no. 2 (2006): 119-144.
- “The National Security Council: Tool of Presidential Crisis Management,” Journal of Public and International Affairs, vol. 9, no. 1 (1998): 102-127.
- “Third Party Mediation Over Kashmir: A Modest Proposal,” International Peacekeeping, vol. 4, no. 4 (1997): 1-30.
- “The Mediating Role in the Kashmir Dispute Between India and Pakistan,” The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, vol. 21, no. 1 (1996): 173-195.
Non-Refereed Journal Articles
Research Reports
- “Managers as Negotiators: The Power and Gender Mix,” Negotiation Journal, vol. 12, no. 4 (1996): 367-370.
- “Toward the ‘Next Generation’ of Research on Mediation and Third-Party Intervention,” Negotiation Journal, vol. 12, no. 3 (1996): 271-274.
Reviews and Review Essays
- “Thinking Globally and Acting Locally,” Review Essay of Negotiating Globally, by J. Brett and Reaching for Higher Ground in Conflict Resolution, by F. Dukes, M. Piscolish and J. Stephens, Negotiation Journal, vol. 19, no. 3 (2003): 371-378.
- “Advice to Princes in the Global Age”: Review Essay of Power Sharing and International Mediation in Ethnic Conflicts, by T. Sisk and Elusive Peace, by I. W. Zartman, The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, vol. 21, no. 2 (1997).
- Review of A Concise History of the Middle East, by A. Goldschmidt, Jr., The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, vol. 20, no. 2 (1996).
Research Monographs
- Civil Society and Peace Negotiations: Why, Whether and How They Could Be Involved, with Thania Paffenholz and Darren Kew. Background paper for International Mediators’ Retreat, June 2006 Oslo Forum: Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Geneva, Switzerland, and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- An Assessment of Back Channel Diplomacy: Negotiations Between the Palestinians and Israelis, PON Paper 00-7 (September 2000) Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School.
- Resolving the Kashmir Conflict Between India and Pakistan: Prospects for Mediation, Working Paper Series, 96-2 Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School.
- The Negotiations Between the Palestinians and Israel: Short Term Breakthrough but Long Term Failure? Working Paper Series, 95-4 Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School.
Peer-Reviewed Policy Papers and Publications
- “Negotiating Civil Resistance,” with Noah Rosen, Peaceworks vol. 129, United States Institute of Peace, July 2017
- Setting the Table for Arab-Israeli Peace: The Role of Publics, Policy paper for the USIP Senior Working Group on the Middle East, Co-Chaired by Samuel R. Berger and Stephen A. Hadley, June 23, 2009.
- Training Manual on Alternative Dispute Resolution and Restorative Justice [Judicial training for Nigerian judges], co-authored with Darren Kew and Kevin Nwosu, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, October 2007.
- International Prevention Practices in the Culture of Drugs and Violence, U.S. Department of State, July 2005.
- “A Culture of Justice: Guatemala’s Post-Conflict Judicial Modernization,” World Bank, April 2004 (presented at World Bank’s “Scaling-Up Poverty Reduction” Conference in Shanghai, May 2004).
- “Evaluation of World Bank-supported ADR in Guatemala,” World Bank, March 2003.
- “Commercial Alternate Dispute Resolution in Bolivia,” Appendix “B” in S. Brown, C. Cervenak, D. Fairman, Alternative Dispute Resolution Programs: A Guide for USAID, December 1997 (USAID Contract AEP-I-00-96-90022-00).
Pedagogy
- “Comparative Peace Processes,” in Timothy A. McElwee, B. Welling Hall, Joseph Liechty, Julie Garber, eds., Peace, Justice and Security Studies: A Curriculum Guide, 7th ed. (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2009) Ch. 14.6
Work In Progress
- "Shooting for Peace: Negotiation of Ceasefires in Civil Wars."
Grants and Sponsored Research
- Fulbright Senior Specialists Scholarship 2009; Curricular collaboration with the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Palestinian American Research Center Post Doctoral Fellowship, 2005
- Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation Doctoral Research Fellowship, 1999-2000
Professional Presentations
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“From Saigon to Kabul: Negotiation Lessons Learned and Forgotten,” Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation, PON Live! Lecture Series, January 12, 2022, https://youtu.be/HbV03mqE2gc
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“Strategic Advising for Special Operations Liaison Officers," Joint Special Operations University, MacDill Air Force Base, June 23, 2021
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“Prenegotiations in Peace Processes,” guest lecture in Prof. Jim Pugel’s Conflict Analysis course within Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence program, National Intelligence University, April 28, 2021
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“Back Channels in Palestine Before 1948: Colonialists, Zionists and Arab Nationalists" for Panel "Out of the Shadows: Israel and Back-channel Diplomacy,” paper presented at the 62nd Annual Convention of the International Studies Association, April 6, 2021
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“Strategic Advising in Iraq,” Defense Security Cooperation University and NATO Training Mission in Iraq, January 31, 2021
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“Adapting International Negotiation Teaching for Online Delivery,” 10th Annual Graduate Education Symposium in Peace and Conflict Resolution, Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University, December 4, 2020
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“Cultural and Psychological Dimensions of Negotiation,” Skokolvo Moscow School of Business, October 6, 2020
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“Peace Negotiation Skills for Women Delegates to Intra-Afghan Peace Talks,” United States Institute of Peace, September 9, 2020
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“Clandestine Negotiations Workshop,” Invited speaker and author, Internationales Konversionszentrum Bonn (BICC), Peace and Conflict Research Institute, March 25-26, 2020 (this workshop postponed due to COVID pandemic)
- “Multiparty Diplomacy in the Context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC, September 12, 2019
- Negotiation Skills for Security Force Assistance Advisors, Department of Defense, Joint Special Operations University, Washington DC, June 19-20, 2019
- “Peacebuilding Approaches to Countering Violent Extremism,” The Carter Center, Conflict Transformation Workshop for Imams and Muslim Community Leaders, Switzerland, January 24-27, 2019
- “From Fragility to Everyday Peace,” Keynote at Christmas Ball for the U.S. Army 450th Civil Affairs Battalion, Ft. Belvoir, VA, December 1, 2018
- “Ceasefires, Peace Processes and Preventive Diplomacy,” ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop on Preventive Diplomacy, Naypidaw, Myanmar, September 18-20, 2018
- “Officially Unofficial: Negotiating the Release of International Detainees,” paper presented at the Annual Convention of the International Studies Association, San Francisco, CA, April 4, 2018
- “Transforming Violent Conflict: Where People Power Meets Peacebuilding,” Panel presenter, Alliance for Peacebuilding Annual Conference, Washington, DC, October 11, 2017
- “People Power and Peacebuilding: Can They Collaborate?” Panel presenter and publication launch, United States Institute of Peace, July 26, 2017
- “Negotiation with Nonstate Armed Groups,” Seminar for government and military officials from Thailand, United States Institute of Peace, Washington, DC, June 2, 2017
- “Cross Cultural Communication for Public Affairs Officers,” lecture for public affairs officers from US and NATO partner countries, Defense Information School, Ft. Meade, MD, May 2, 2017
- “Negotiation and Persuasion in Leadership and Command,” Lecture presented at Marine Corps University, Command and Staff College, Quantico, VA, April 6, 2017
- “Civil Resistance, Negotiation and Peace,” panel organizer and paper presenter, International Studies Association, Baltimore, MD, February 24, 2017
- “Negotiation Skills for Mediators,” guest lecturer in Mediating Violent Conflicts course at the United States Institute of Peace, Washington, DC January 24, 2017
- “Negotiation and Security Force Assistance,” lecturer for US AFRICOM Foreign Area Officers, Royal United Services Institute, London, January 9, 2017
- “Peace Processes: Elements and Institutional Capacity,” lecturer, United States Institute of Peace and League of Arab States Secretariat, Cairo, Egypt, December 27, 2016
- Roundtable discussion “Redefining Strategic International Partnerships,” participant, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Washington DC, October 27, 2016
- Roundtable discussion, “Conflict Prevention,” participant, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Washington DC, October 13, 2016
- “Advanced Strategy and Tactics for ECSEE Ministerial-Level Negotiators,” lecture delivered via video conference to the European Energy Community Secretariat, Vienna, Austria, October 3, 2016
- “Cross Cultural Communication for National Security Officials,” lecturer, Defense Information School, Joint Senior Public Affairs Officers Course, Department of Defense, Ft. Meade, MD, September 19, 2016
- “Negotiation and Leadership,” guest lecturer at AILA International Fellows Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC, September 15, 2016
- Book panel and analysis, “Across the Lines of Conflict: Case Studies in Track II Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution,” speaker, Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum (Search for Common Ground), Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC, June 23, 2016
- Panel on “Exploring the Intersections Between Peacebuilding, Nonviolent Social Movements and Civilian Protection,” panel participant, Alliance for Peacebuilding, Annual Conference, United States Institute of Peace, May 26, 2016
- “Negotiation and Persuasion in Leadership and Command,” Lecture presented at Marine Corps University, Command and Staff College, Quantico, VA, May 16, 2016
- “Quasi-Mediation in Organizations: An Interactive Lecture in Honor of Prof. David Matz,” presenter, University of Massachusetts, Department of Conflict Resolution, Boston, MA, April 28, 2016
- “Secrecy and Negotiation,” Paper presented at Conference on the Ethics of Negotiation in Armed Conflict, Center for Ethics and Rule of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA, April 15, 2016
- “Negotiations, Publics and Peace Processes,” Paper presented at the International Studies Association’s 57th Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA, March 20, 2016 (Panel organizer and paper presenter)
- “Turkey’s Mediation Role in the Iran Nuclear Issue,” Paper presented at the International Studies Association’s 57th Annual Convention, Atlanta, GA, March 17, 2016
AU Experts
Area of Expertise
international negotiation, military negotiations, ceasefires, humanitarian negotiations, peace process, back channel negotiation
Additional Information
Anthony Wanis-St. John researches international negotiation, military negotiations, ceasefires, humanitarian negotiations and peace processes. He has created several advanced courses on negotiation for SIS, ranging from interpersonal skills and analysis to complex international multilateral contexts. He also conducts advanced negotiation trainings, mediation and conflict resolution workshops in diverse organizational contexts and sectors. He is an advisor to the Academy of International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding at the United States Institute of Peace.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.