2025 Theses Master's

Formal Inclusion vs. Informal Disruption: A Comparative Study of Women’s Mediative Roles in the Peace Processes of Northern Ireland and Colombia

Goslan, Isabelle

This thesis critically examines the roles of women mediators in the peace processes of Northern Ireland and Colombia, focusing on how societal and institutional perceptions shaped their influence and how differing models of gender inclusion impacted peace outcomes. Using a comparative case study approach, the research explores two distinct paradigms: the grassroots mobilization of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition (NIWC) during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations and the formalized participation of women through the Gender Subcommission in Colombia’s peace talks with the FARC. These contrasting models reveal varied pathways through which women challenge traditional patterns of conflict resolution and contribute to peace processes.

Drawing on feminist peacebuilding frameworks and the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, this study analyzes women mediators’ epistemological contributions, rooted in lived experiences, reconciliation, and social justice, and examines their reception, legitimacy, and marginalization within peace negotiations. In Northern Ireland, the NIWC disrupted dominant political discourses and expanded the ethical framework of the process, while in Colombia, institutional mechanisms embedded gender-sensitive provisions into the peace agreement. However, both approaches faced challenges: Northern Ireland’s informal model lacked formalized power to secure binding commitments to gender equity, and Colombia’s formal mechanisms encountered resistance during post-agreement implementation.

This thesis argues that neither formal inclusion nor grassroots mobilization alone ensures gender-just outcomes. Instead, the interplay between structural access, public legitimacy, and gendered knowledge production determines the inclusivity and sustainability of peace processes. By emphasizing the necessity of multi-dimensional approaches that integrate institutional reforms with grassroots advocacy, the research provides critical insights for designing inclusive mediation frameworks. It underscores the importance of centering women’s experiences and knowledge in peacebuilding to advance gender equality. These findings contribute to feminist conflict resolution and transitional justice discourses, offering a roadmap for more equitable and sustainable global peace processes.