William W. Thomson
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Email: wwt@st-andrews.ac.uk
Biography
With a previous military background, I served firstly with the Royal Navy (RN) diving branch. Upon leaving the RN, I enlisted into the Royal Marines (RM). During this period I engaged in peacekeeping operations, counter-terrorism and maritime counter-terrorism with Comacchio Group RM. This developed an acute awareness of territorial and religious/ideological conflict, creating an interest in this area. My military experiences brought about a deep seated questioning about the utility of force in conflict, particularly as a way of transforming religious and ethnic protracted conflicts. This led towards study for an Honours Degree in Theology BTh (Hons) at the University of Aberdeen. On completion of the BTh (Hons), I studied towards a Master of Research in Political Research and International Relations (MRes), again at the University of Aberdeen. My current research focus in conflict transformation, examines the impact of ‘Nonviolent Action Initiatives’ within protracted conflict. This contemporary study is currently undertaken within Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Thesis Title
Protracted Conflict through a Peacebuilding Lens: A Critical Analysis of Nonviolent Approaches to the Israel-Palestine Dispute
Supervisor
Dr Patrick Hayden & Dr Jeffrey Murer
Research Interests
Peace Studies; Conflict Transformation; Conflict Analysis; Mediation; Peace Education and Curriculum Development; Nonviolent Action Strategies; Religious Conflict; Political Theology; Ethics in War - Collateral Damage and Just War Theory.
Papers
1) Pilot study results of bereaved families "Dialogue Encounters" in schools, working towards reconciliation. Work in progress; see, http://www.theparentscircle.com/OpinionsMain.asp?id=71
2) The Growth, Process and Impact of Palestinian Civil Resistance, Against the Israeli Security Barrier/Apartheid Wall. Work in progress.
3) Evaluating the Impact of the Israeli Security Barrier (ISB) upon Palestinian Society. Work in progress.
4) Transformative Mediation in Protracted Conflict, (submitting).
Conferences
Papers Accepted 2011
Conference: ISA 2011 Montreal
Paper 1: The Wall Separating Israelis and Palestinians: Non-violent Action or Structural Violence?
Paper 2: Another Day - Another Protest - The Growth, Process and Impact of Palestinian Civil Resistance, Against the Israeli Security Barrier/Apartheid Wall.
Conference: Fences, Walls and Borders: State of Insecurity - University of Quebec May 19-20, 2011 at Montreal in association with the Association for Borderlands Studies. Organized by the Raoul Dandurand Chair.
Paper: Evaluating the Impact of the Israeli Security Barrier (ISB) upon Palestinian Society
Papers Presented 2010
Conference: ISA Annual Convention 2010, New Orleans. Panel: Identity and Conflict. Chair: William W Thomson
Paper: The Importance of Joint Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue Initiatives in Protracted Conflict
Conference: “Sumud and the Wall.” Venue: Bethlehem University, 30 April- 1 May, 2010, Furno Hall, Bethlehem, Palestine. The conference was organized by Oxford Brookes University (UK), Paris-Est University (France) and the Arab Educational Institute (AEI-Open Windows, Bethlehem), in cooperation with Al-Quds Open University, Bethlehem University (Department of Humanities) and Utrecht University (Center for Conflict Studies) as academic partners.
Paper: Effective Non-Violent Action: The Wall and Beyond
Papers Presented 2009
Conference: London UK July 2009, Stockwell Green Community Services. Exploring the ways, third sector charities and educational institutions support one another, in the aim of tackling extremism.
Paper: The Role of Education in Addressing Extremism.
Conference: International conference on New Directions for International Relations, held 10-12 July, 2009 at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy, Herziliya, Israel.
Paper: Practising Soft-Power-Peacemaking: A Rational Choice Theory?
Conference: CICA-STR, International Conference on Political Violence and Collective Aggression. Jordanstown, Northern Ireland 2-5 September 2009. Panel N; Conflict, Violence and the Role of Government and Other Actors
Paper: The Role of NGO’s in Protracted Conflict
Workshops
2008
Workshop: University of St Andrews, Peace and Conflict 1 May 2008. Discussion paper entitled “Setting the Agenda for Soft-Power-Peacemaking within International Relations.”
2009
Workshop Facilitator: London Conference, UK July 2009, Stockwell Green Community Services.
Workshop facilitator for third sector initiatives in addressing extremism in the UK, Sectors involved, police, government, social workers, religious bodies and academics. Concluding report submitted.
Workshop: Israel & Palestinian Territories, Sea of Galilee.
Workshop paper developed for Israeli-Palestinian youth reconciliation project, “messengers of reconciliation.” See, http://www.theparentscircle.com/ActivitiesMain.asp?id=255&sivug_id=3 Discussion paper on the meaning of ‘soft-power,’ and how it can be applied to the reconciliation framework.
2010
Workshop: University of St Andrews, School of Management, Third Sector Research Forum - Discussing the Process and Impact of Third Sector Reconciliation Initiatives.
Grants
The Thomas and Margaret Roddan Trust Bursary – Awarded in the summer of 2009 the sum of £1000.00 for a feasibility study and travel costs to research Nonviolent Action in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
University of St Andrews - School of International Relations, Awarded on the 16th March 2010 the sum of £400 for fieldwork and conference attendance at Bethlehem University, Palestine.
Russell Trust – Awarded on the 20th May 2010 the sum of £1,150 towards fieldwork research in Israel and the Palestinian Territories 2010.
University of St Andrews - School of International Relations, Awarded on the 17th November 2010 the sum of £500 for fieldwork in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, January 2011.
Teaching
IR2003 Power and Violence in World Politics
