Master of Arts Thesis Defense: Elif Gizem Demirağ

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Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Master of Arts Thesis Defense of  Elif Gizem Demirağ (Conflict Analysis and Resolution)

Thesis Jury:

• Kerim Can Kavaklı (Thesis supervisor)
• Emre Hatipoğlu
• Hasret Dikici Bilgin

Title: TIMING AND FREQUENCY OF LEADERS’ MEDIATION ATTEMPTS 

Date & Time: December 28, 2015  & 13:00

Place: Sabancı University, FASS 2054

Keywords: Mediation, political regime, power status, leaders, timing, frequency

Abstract: How does a state’s political regime and power status influence leader’s mediation attempts? This study develops an explanation for this question derived from democratic peace theory which underlines the role of democratic norms in motivating state leaders to play a third party role in peace process. Based on this approach, the expectation is that democratic country representatives are more likely to mediate especially in the early stage of their careers. I argue that the frequency and timing of leader’s mediation attempts are influenced by the state’s regime types and power status. To conduct this research, I analyzed the mediation activities initiated by the state leaders from 1933 to 1999. The findings suggest that the leaders of both democratic and anocratic regimes attempted for mediation sooner than leaders of autocratic regimes after entering office. The study also find that the influence of power status on leader’s mediation attempts may change based on the regime type.