Reiss to Discuss Implications of Northern Ireland Peace Process on January 31
Mitchell Reiss, who served until February 2007 as the President's Special Envoy for the Northern Ireland Peace Process with the rank of Ambassador, will deliver a lecture at the Law School co-sponsored by the Human Rights and National Security Law Program and Students Defending Democracy. Entitled "The Northern Ireland Peace Process: How Pertinent a Model for Other Conflicts?" the talk will be presented on January 31 at 5 p.m. in Room 127 of the Law School, and is free and open to the public.
Drawing on his expertise as Special Envoy, Reiss will explore the lessons that can be derived from the resolution of the Troubles. In particular, Reiss will consider the implications of these lessons for other civil conflicts around the world, asking, "What do these tragic events have to say about fighting terrorism? About developing a political path away from terror? About the role of outside parties to the conflict? In short, can Northern Ireland serve as a model for the peaceful resolution of other disputes?"
Reiss is Vice Provost for International Affairs, Professor of Law, and Professor of Government at the College of William & Mary. From 2003-2005, he served as Director of the Office of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department; in December 2003 he was asked to serve concurrently as the President's Special Envoy for the Northern Ireland Peace Process. During this period, Northern Ireland registered historic progress towards ending the Troubles, realizing the full promise of the Good Friday Agreement and restoring devolved government.
Reiss has previously served at the College of William & Mary as Dean of International Affairs and as Director of the Wendy and Emery Reves Center for International Studies. He also helped manage the start-up and operations of the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, was a Guest Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., practiced law at Covington & Burling, and was Special Assistant to the National Security Advisor as a White House Fellow in 1988-89.
For more information, contact lawcom@wm.edu.