Lisa Schirch

Lisa Schirch is a professor of peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University.

A former Fulbright Fellow in East and West Africa, Schirch has worked in over 20 countries as a trainer, consultant and facilitator in peacebuilding programs such as inter-ethnic dialogue and reconciliation, peace processes, and media-based programs. In the last several years, Schirch is working in Afghanistan and Iraq with civil society organizations.

She is the Director of the 3D Security Initiative at www.3Dsecurity.org, which promotes civil society perspectives on conflict prevention and peacebuilding in US security policymaking.

Schirch has written five books and numerous articles on conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Her current research interests include civil-military dialogue and the intersection of security and climate change, sustainable development, the media, and conflict prevention.

She is a frequent public speaker and has TV and radio experience discussing U.S. foreign policy. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University.

B.A. in Political Science and International Relations, University of Waterloo
M.S., Ph.D., Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University

BOOKS:

• Little Book of Dialogue on Difficult Subjects
• Little Book of Strategic Peacebuilding
• Ritual and Symbol in Peacebuilding
• Civilian Peacekeeping: Preventing Violence and Making Space for Democracy
• Women in Peacebuilding Resource and Training Manual: Part 1 and Part 2

RECENT ARTICLES:

*“God’s Security Strategy: Reconciliation Up, Out, and Down” New Haven, CT: Yale Divinity School Reflections, May 2009.

*“ Security from the Ground Up: Civil Society and the Security-Development Nexus Washington, DC: Journal of International Peace Operation. May 1, 2009.

“ A “right” to defence is not a “strategy” for peace. ”Washington, DC: Common Ground News Service, 15 January 2009

“Climate Change and Conflict Prevention: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst.” Washington, DC: Monday Developments. InterAction. July 2008.

• Negotiation –not strikes – needed for Iran
• Strategic Arts-based Peacebuilding
• The Two Wars in Iraq: Ours and Theirs
• When and Why to Use the Media for Peacebuilding
• Civilian foreign-aid agencies neglected as DoD role grows
• Redeeming the Powers, Redeeming Ourselves
• Security and Coexistence
• Leveraging “3D” Security: From Rhetoric to Reality
  
  

*“A New Security Framework.” Panel Moderator. Conflict Prevention and Resolution Forum. Washington, DC. April 14, 2009.
*3D Security and Peacebuilding. Keynote Speaker. Notre Dame University Peace Conference. April 3, 2009.
*Peacebuilding and the Federal Government. Panelist. Department for Peace Campaign/Peace Alliance National Conference. Arlington, Virginia. March 20, 2009.
*Whole of Government Conflict Prevention. Panelist. Joint Urban Warriors/Joint Forces Command.
*Military Support for Reconciliation. Joint Forces Command. Quantico, Virginia. February 24-25.
*3D Security. Keynote speaker. Mary Baldwin College. Staunton, Virginia. November 4, 2008.
*Whole of Community Conflict Prevention. Moderator. 3D Security Initiative Conference. Capital Hill, Washington, DC. October 30, 2008.
*“Prospects for Peace in Iraq.” Panel with Guardian journalist Jonathan Steele and USIP Paul Hughs. Search for Common Ground/John Hopkins University. Washington DC. 75 attendees. March 18, 2008.
*“Security, Policy, and the Middle East.” Lecture and Dialogue. James Madison University. 100 attendees. Harrisonburg, Virginia. March 11, 2008.
*“Using Aikido in Congress: Human and Environmental Security” Keynote Address. Ecumenical Advocacy Days. Washington DC. 1000 attendees. March 8.
*“Peacebuilding in Iraq.” Lecture and Dialogue. Mennonite Peace and Justice Network. 40 attendees. Washington DC. March 7, 2008.
*“Conflict Prevention and Security.” Keynote Woolman Peace Lecture Series. George Fox University. Oregon. March 4, 2008.
*“Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws: A Pacifist Amongst the Policymakers” Chapel Presentation. George Fox University, March 4, 2008.
*“Conflict Prevention and Immigration” Catholic Social Ministry Conference. Washington DC. 200 attendees. February 26, 2007.
*“3D Security and Conflict Prevention” Quaker Annual Meeting, Dayton, Virginia. 50 attendees. November 10, 2007.
*“3D Security and Conflict Prevention” Lyceum Keynote. Harrisonburg, Virginia. 70 attendees. November 9, 2007.
*“Climate Change and Conflict Prevention” Panelist. Fulbright Annual Conference. Washington DC. 500 attendees. November 3, 2007.
*“Diplomacy and Development in Security” University of Pittsburgh. 250 attendees. October 12, 2007.
*“3D Security and US Foreign Policy” Young Leaders Summit. Lexington, Virginia 100 attendees. July 12, 2007.
*“Inter-religious Peacebuilding” Harvard Divinity School. 100 attendees. May 22, 2007.
*“Strategies for peace in Iraq and the world”. Rockhill Community Center., Perkasie, Pennsylvania. 250 attendees. May 20, 2007.
*“UN Peacebuilding and US Security” Quaker Pennwoods Retirement Community. 40 attendees. May 21, 2007.
US Foreign Policy and How It Affects Americans. Harrisonburg, Virginia. 130 attendees. April 10, 2007.
*“Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding” Ecumenical Advocacy Days Conference. Washington DC. 75 attendees. March 11, 2007.
*“Forum on Iraq: Encouraging Partnership, Creating Movement.” Panel Discussion at Eastern Mennonite University. 150 attendees. February 19, 2007.
*"3D Security: Development, Diplomacy and Defense." Presentation to Peace Alliance Annual Conference. 740 attendees. February 4, 2007.
*"3D Security and the US Peace Movement." Presentation to Veterans for Peace, Rockingham County, Virginia. December 7, 2006.

• “3D Security in the Next Congress” Panelist. Princeton University, New Jersey. November 12, 2006.
  *“3D Security: From Rhetoric to Reality in US Foreign Policy” University of Maryland. November 2, 2006.
  *"Civil Society’s Role in the U.N. Peacebuilding Commission.” Opening Address. United Nations Seminar. New York City. September 5, 2006.
  *“Balancing the Security Toolkit.” Mahatma Gandhi Keynote Lecture. James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia. April 12, 2006.
  *“Balancing the Security Toolkit.” Harvard Law School. Boston, MA. April 5, 2006.
  *“Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws.” Brandeis University. Boston, MA. April 5, 2006.
  *“Peacebuilding Terminology and Communications Strategy.” International Studies Association Annual Conference. San Diego, CA. March 21, 2006.
  *“Balancing the Security Toolkit.” Methodist Peace and Justice National Conference. Washington, DC. March 9, 2006.
  *“Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws.” Peacebuilding Conference. University of Toronto, Canada. February 4, 2006.
  *“Widening the Security Lexicon: The 3D Approach.” Keynote speaker. Peace and Security Legislative Strategy Retreat. Airlie House, Virginia. January 9, 2006.
  *“Youth and Peacebuilding.” Panel discussant. Academy for Educational Development. Washington, DC. November 21, 2005.
  *“How Conflict Prevention Organizations Work in Post-War Contexts.” Panel presentation at Closing the Gap between Early Warning and Early Action to Prevent Conflict: Towards a Common Agenda. Roundtable Co-Sponsored by the Department of State’s Office for the Coordinator of Reconstruction and Stabilization, U.S. Institute of Peace, Washington, DC. November 8, 2005.
  *“Peacebuilding and Environmental Sustainability.” Panel presentation at Working Group on Environment and the Future. Washington, DC. November 4, 2005.
  *“Civil-Military Coordination: Reflections from Iraq” Panel presentation at Civil-Military Coordination Working Group. National Defense University, Fort McNare. October 28, 2005.
  *“Building Peace: Beyond Pacifism?” Keynote Address. Historic Peace Church Conference. The Courage to be Nonviolent. Indianapolis, Indiana. September 8, 2005.
  *“Economic and Political Security: A Human Security Perspective.” Panel presentation at Human Security session at United Nations Department of Political Information-NGO Conference. New York City. September 7, 2005.
  *“Conflict Prevention Security Strategies” Invited lecture at Governor’s School for International Studies. University of Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania.. July 7, 2005.
  *“Inter-Faith Peacebuilding.” March 8, 2005. Public speech and dialogue. Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education, and Advocacy. Suva, Fiji.
  *“Patriotism and Dialogue Post 9-11: Rethinking Security” April 21, 2004. Invited public lecture in Community Conversations since 9/11 series. Montgomery College, Maryland.
  *“Moralizing Language and Security: Good and Evil in Political Rhetoric.” December 1, 2003. Invited public lecture in Community Conversations since 9/11 series. Montgomery College, Maryland.
  *“Frameworks for Strategic Peacebuilding” November 5-7, 2003.Workshop at New Paths for Peace: Interfield Collaboration Conference. University of Minnesota, Milwaukee.

Shalom Mennonite Church Sunday School teacher

GRANTS
Ploughshares Fund for 3D Security Initiative
Connect US Fund for 3D Security Initiative
Colombe Foundation for 3D Security Initiative
Compton Foundation for 3D Security Initiative
Ford Foundation for 3D Security Initiative

Alliance for Peacebuilding
Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict
Association for Conflict Resolution