The Art of the Possible: Decommissioning Mindsets with Monica McWilliams

The Art of the Possible: Decommissioning Mindsets with Monica McWilliams

In this live episode of the Kroc Cast, Good Friday Agreement signatory Monica McWilliams shares a masterclass in resilience and political strategy. Drawing from her experience co-founding the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition, McWilliams offers a candid look at what it takes to "mess up the pitch" and force a seat at a table dominated by "big beasts" and entrenched "dinosaurs [https://kroc.nd.edu/assets/655343/original/8dd1643b9ca2a5e476faf63ef63b8dca_1_.jpg]." She explores the grueling "software" of peacebuilding—the work of decommissioning mental prejudices—and explains why peace must be "heated" simultaneously at the elite and grassroots levels. With wit and candor, McWilliams discusses the tactical use of humor against sexism, the vital influence of Nelson Mandela, and the delicate challenge of "tattooing a balloon" to ensure a peace process survives long after the signatures are dry. This episode was recorded live at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies' Strategic Peacebuilding Academy [https://kroc.nd.edu/about-us/strategic-peacebuilding/kroc-institute-strategic-peacebuilding-academy/] on "Peace Processes" in 2025.

Beyond the Timeline: "Slow Peace" and the Power of Civil Society

How do we measure the success of a peace process? While international observers often look to legislative milestones and disarmament data, these metrics often miss the most critical element of lasting change: the slow, relational work of the people living through the transition. At the center of this effort is civil society—the community leaders and grassroots organizers who act as the ultimate stewards of peace, transforming high-level agreements into lived realities on the ground. In this episode of The Kroc Cast, Allison Kielhold [https://kroc.nd.edu/faculty-and-staff/allison-kielhold/] sits down with Mariafernanda (Mafe) Burgos Ariza [https://kroc.nd.edu/faculty-and-staff/mariafernanda-mafe-burgos-ariza/] and Angela Lederach [https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/angela-lederach.aspx] (Ph.D. '20) to challenge the traditional "fast-track" model of international peacebuilding. Using the ongoing implementation in Colombia as a lens, they explore how civil society movements sustain momentum during political uncertainty and delve into the concept of “slow peace”—a framework that prioritizes trust, ritual, and daily healing over bureaucratic deadlines.

Special Report: The Nuclear Threshold—Assessing Iranian Intent Amidst the February 28 Strikes

In this urgent and timely episode of the Kroc Cast, we are joined by Kelsey Davenport (MA '11), Director of Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association. This conversation was recorded as a "massive armada" gathered in the Persian Gulf, and it now serves as a hauntingly prophetic analysis of the catastrophic military escalation that unfolded on February 28, 2026. Hours after "intense" nuclear negotiations in Geneva ended without a deal, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury (Roaring Lion), a joint military assault aimed at toppling the Iranian regime and "razing" its missile and nuclear infrastructure. With reports confirming the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and retaliatory strikes hitting U.S. bases across the Gulf, the region has entered the "devastating war" Davenport warned was nearly inevitable without a diplomatic off-ramp.

Co-Creating Peace: The Evolution of PAM-M in the Philippines

How can a global research tool become a localized "bridge" for peace? In this episode of the Kroc Cast, experts Madhav Joshi, Myla Liguoro, and Bishnu Sapkota join host Melinda Davis to discuss the evolution of PAM-Mindanao (PAM-M) [https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/pam-m]. The conversation highlights how a framework originally known for its global research has become a "scientific art of accompaniment" in the Bangsamoro peace process, fostering trust through a unique co-creation model between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The guests explore how evidence-based monitoring serves as a vital bridge between high-level negotiations and grassroots realities.

The Human Network Behind the Data: Monitoring Peace in Colombia

Peace implementation is a long, nonlinear journey that requires more than just technical oversight—it requires a human network rooted in trust. In this episode of The Kroc Cast, we go behind the scenes of the Peace Accords Matrix [https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/] (PAM) to explore its historic responsibility: independently monitoring the 2016 Final Peace Accord in Colombia. Host Cristian Sáez Flórez [https://kroc.nd.edu/faculty-and-staff/cristian-saez-florez/] is joined by the researchers and practitioners who bring this work to life through a unique partnership between the University of Notre Dame and the Colombian Barometer Initiative. This conversation dives into the delicate balance between measuring progress and respecting the lived realities of communities navigating the legacy of conflict. From technical innovations in transitional justice to the emotional dimensions of post-conflict work, our guests share how this binational collaboration turns high-level commitments into tangible change on the ground. The episode features Ángela María Ramírez Rincón [https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/barometer/staff-bios], Executive Director of the Barometer Initiative in Colombia; Mateo Gómez Vásquez [https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/barometer/staff-bios], Technical Research Leader; Natalia Restrepo Ortiz [https://peaceaccords.nd.edu/barometer/staff-bios], Research Associate; and Carolina Serrano Idrovo [https://kroc.nd.edu/faculty-and-staff/carolina-serrano-idrovo/], Research Associate for PAM at the Kroc Institute.