Matteo Dian, Francesco Moro, Carlotta Mingardi
This project studies strategies and the practices put in places by non-Western actors, and China in particular, in the realm of conflict resolution and conflict management. Moreover, it looks at how these strategies affect conflict management policies adopted by Western countries, in their trans-national dimension. The policies and the practices promoted by non-Western powers are associated with their rejection of key normative elements of the Western led liberal order and of the idea of liberal peace. China and other non-Western powers have started to articulate an alternative vision of the international order in the field of security. This has led to crafting a different approach to conflict management, centred on national sovereignty and non-intervention and relativism of human rights. The project aims both at theoretically investigate these alternatives and to empirically study their policy consequences. The geographical focus of the study will be the wider Mediterranean, considering international and trans-national dynamics. This area testifies the highest number of interventions in conflict and crisis situations, paralleled by the dense interconnection of multiple actors (Western and non-Western) while standing among Italy’s and Europe’s priorities. Within this geographical scope, this research project will integrate multiple steps and methods: first, the conceptual and theoretical reflection on the encounter and comparison between Western and non-Western actors will be accompanied by empirical research on policies and diplomatic positions, to situate and problematize their contribution to conflict management and resolution, in its international and transnational dimension.
PRIN 2022