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Photograph of Mohammed Abu-Nimer

Mohammed Abu-Nimer Professor Peace, Human Rights & Cultural Relations

Contact
abunimer@american.edu
SIS | Peace, Human Rights & Cultural Relations
School of International Service 211
Additional Positions at AU
Director, Peacebuilding and Development Institute
Degrees
PhD, Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University; MA, Hebrew University in Jerusalem; BA, Hebrew University in Jerusalem

Bio
Mohammed Abu-Nimer, of the International Peace and Conflict Resolution program, is a full professor who has conducted interreligious conflict resolution training and interfaith dialogue workshops in conflict areas around the world, such as in, Egypt, Northern Ireland, the Philippines (Mindanao), Israel, Palestine, Chad, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. As a professor with over 35 years of teaching experience, he has developed numerous courses that deal with different facets of peacebuilding and conflict resolution and regularly publish on the subject. While his research has focused on a wide array of areas in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, his most recent areas of focus have included faith-based peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue in peacebuilding and building social cohesion, and pedagogical considerations on incorporating peace and forgiveness education in the Arab world and Muslim world. He also served as a Senior Advisor to the KAICIID Dialogue Centre, an international organization that specialized in interreligious and intercultural dialogue. Abu-Nimer has been both author and an editor of more than 13 books on faith-based and interfaith peacebuilding (e.g. Nonviolence and Peacebuilding in Islamic Context: Bridging Ideals and Reality (2003); Evaluating Interreligious Peacebuilding (2021); Peace-Building By, Between and Beyond Muslims and Evangelical Christians (2009), as well as interfaith dialogue and its role in peacebuilding and reconciliation (e.g. Unity in Diversity: Interfaith Dialogue in the Middle East (2007). In addition, he has author numerous articles in refereed journals, such as the International Review of Education , the Journal of International and Comparative Education , Journal of Religious Ethics, Peace and Change: A Journal of Peace Research and the International Journal of Politics , Culture and Society' . In addition to his articles and publications, Dr. Abu-Nimer is the co-founder and co-editor of the Journal of Peacebuilding and Development .
See Also
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call AU Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.

Teaching

Fall 2024

  • SIS-613 Reconciliation and Justice

  • SISU-310 Topics Peace/Glb Sec/Con Res: Culture and Religion

Spring 2025

  • SIS-619 Special Studies in Int'l Pol: Dialogue: Approaches & Applic

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Research Interests

As an expert on conflict resolution and dialogue for peace, Dr. Abu-Nimer has conducted research in these fields among Palestinians and Jews in Israel, focusing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on the application of conflict resolution models in Muslim communities.

Selected Publications

  • Peace-Building By, Between, and Beyond Muslims and Evangelical Christians.  (Editor, with David Augsburger.) Rowman and Littlefield, 2009.Ìý Ìý
  • Muslim Peace Building Actors in Africa and the Balkans. Peace and Change: A Journal of Peace Research. (With Ayse Kadayifci.) (July 2008).Ìý Ìý
  • Unity in Diversity: Interfaith Dialogue in the Middle East. (With Amal Khoury and Emily Welty.) USIP, 2007.Ìý Ìý
  • "Interfaith Dialogue: A Guide For Muslims" (With Dr. Muhammad Shafiq), Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue (CISD) Salam: Peace and Justice Institute, and International Institute for Islamic Thought (IIIT), July, 2007.Ìý Ìý
  • "Peace Education in a Bilingual and Bi-ethnic School for Palestinians and Jews in Israel: Lessons and Challenges."Ilham Nasser and Mohammed Abu-Nimer. In: Educational Response to Conflict: Systemic issues. Macmillan Palgrave (Eds.). Zvi Bekerman (2007).Ìý Ìý
  • "Religious Contribution to Dialogue and Nonviolence Actions in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Possibilities and Obstacles."Palestinian Society and History Review. Vol. 2. Spring 2007 (Arabic).Ìý Ìý
  • Mohammed Abu Nimer and Ned Lazarus. "The Peacebuilders Paradox and the Dynamics of Dialogue: Psychosocial Approaches to Israeli/Palestinian Peacebuilding"Ìý In: Beyond Bullets and Bombs: Grassroots Peacebuilding between Palestinians and Israelis. (J. Kuriansky ed.) (Greenwood Press, 2007).Ìý Ìý
  • "We Make Friends with Our Enemies." Yale Israel Journal, Special Issue on Israel Palestine Elections, 2006.Ìý Ìý
  • "Nonviolent Action in Israel and Palestine: A Growing Force," In: Bridging the Divide: Peacebuilding in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. (Eds.). Edy Kaufman, Walid Salem, and Juliette Verhoeven. New York: Lynne Rienner, 2006. (Also Translated into Italian)Ìý Ìý
  • Contemporary Islam: Dynamic, Not Static. (Eds.) Abdul Aziz Said, Mohammed Abu-Nimer, and Meena Sharify-Funk. New York: Routledge Press, 2006.Ìý Ìý
  • "Bridging Conflict Resolution and Human Rights: Promises and Challenges," in Human Rights and Conflict. (Eds.). Julie Mertus and Jeff Helsing (Eds.) Washington DC: USIP April 2006.

Professional Services

  • Steering Executive committee for International Conference on Nonviolence (Nonviolence International)Ìý Ìý
  • Advisory Board of Abraham’s VisionÌý Ìý
  • Board of Trustees of Israeli Palestinian Research and Information Center, (IPCRI) USA Ìý
  • International Advisory Board for Palestinian Review JournalÌý Ìý
  • Advisory Review Board Just Vision: Middle Eastern Peace InitiativeÌý Ìý
  • Advisory Board Educators for Social ResponsibilityÌý Ìý
  • Advisory Committee for Islamic Conflict Resolution ConferenceÌý Ìý
  • Member of Advisory Committee of Kumarian PressÌý Ìý
  • Executive Committee. Peace Studies Section. International Studies Association (ISA)Ìý Ìý
  • United States Institute of Peace, review board for Peace Scholar dissertation fellowshipsÌý ÌýÌý

Honors, Awards, and Fellowships

  • Jennings Randolph Senior Peace Fellow, USIP, 2008.
  • Morton Deutsch Award, 2005.
  • Visiting Research Fellow, Henry Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace, 1999-2000.
  • Fellowship from the American Research Center in Egypt, New York, 1996-97.
  • A "Peace Scholar" Award-USIP (United States Institute for Peace), Washington, D.C, September 1991-September 1992.

Executive Experience

  • Co-Editor of Journal of Development and Peacebuilding (Co-Founder of the Journal)Ìý
  • Coexistence International Advisory Board, Brandeis UniversityÌý Ìý
  • Editorial Board of International Journal of Transitional Justice. Oxford University PressÌý
  • Steering Executive committee for International Conference on Nonviolence (Nonviolence International)
  • Executive Committee. Peace Studies Section. International Studies Association (ISA) Ìý
  • United States Institute of Peace, review board for Peace Scholar dissertation fellowshipsÌý
  • Editorial board of OJPCR: The Online Journal of Peace and Conflict Resolution
  • Reviewing board, Grant Program of the United States Institute for Peace (USIP)Ìý Ìý
  • Board member of Center for Global Peace, American University, Washington DC
  • Executive Committee of Peace Studies at International Association Studies (ISA)

Ìý

Media Appearances

  • Ìý Ìý
  • Sri Lanka Daily Mirror InterviewÌý Ìý
  • Israeli Arabic Radio Show. US Foreign Policy.