Jose Pascal da Rocha, a lecturer on Mediation at Columbia University in the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution MSc Program with over 20 years experience in crisis negotiation in volatile environments, discusses his extensive experience and new books on the topic in this conversation with Beth Fisher-Yoshida. Professor da Rocha tells us about his background in international mediation, the role of mediation in hybrid warfare environments, and insights and tips for students wanting to know more about being an international mediator.

In addition to his involvement at Columbia University, Jose Pascal da Rocha is a fellow with the BRICS Policy Center, Global South Unit for Mediation in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. He serves as a Peace and Development Adviser to the UN and as a mediation expert with the UN Department of Political Affairs. He is a rostered mediation expert with the OSCE, and currently serves as a senior conflict prevention advisor to the African Union, a senior mediation advisor to ECOWAS, a special advisor to the Mediterranean Women Mediator’s Network under the chairmanship of Italy and the Commonwealth Network of Women Mediators under the chairmanship of the U.K. Foreign Office. He also provides advisory services for U.S. Fortune 250 companies in change management strategies and intercultural communication, including leadership, virtual teams, organizational development, and intercultural communication.

In this conversation, he speaks about his work in these different areas as well as on his recent publications, including a handbook on international mediation (Lambert Publishing) and a book on political mediation and conflict resolution. For more information and to locate these books: http://sps.columbia.edu/negotiation-and-conflict-resolution/faculty/jose-pascal-da-rocha