Arai

Tatsushi Arai

School of Peace and Conflict Studies
Associate Professor
Campus:
Kent
Contact Information
Email:
tarai@kent.edu
Phone:
330-672-2875
Fax:
330-672-0668

Biography

Dr. Tatsushi ("Tats") Arai (新井立志) is an Associate Professor at Kent State University’s School of Peace and Conflict Studies. He is a peace researcher and conflict resolution practitioner with twenty-five years of international experience. Dr. Arai has led or co-led conflict resolution initiatives in over twenty countries across the Asia-Pacific, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East.

Prior to joining Kent State in 2019, Dr. Arai served as a United Nations Senior Mediation Adviser on a when-actually-employed basis and held the Sergio Vieira de Mello Endowed Visiting Chair in the Practice of Post-Conflict Diplomacy at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He began his teaching career in 1997–1998, when he lived and worked in Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide and served as a lecturer in international relations at the National University of Rwanda. In 2006, he joined the School for International Training (SIT) Graduate Institute in Vermont as a faculty member and trainer specializing in peacebuilding and conflict transformation. He earned his Ph.D. from George Mason University’s Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution (formerly S-CAR/ICAR) in 2005 and received the school’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2015.

Research

Dr. Arai’s research focuses broadly on peacebuilding, reconciliation, and multi-track diplomacy, engaging both government and civil society actors. He is especially committed to transforming large-scale, intractable conflicts through sustained strategic engagement and broad-based, inclusive partnerships. He is currently writing a book on mediative practice, which explores how conflict parties, stakeholders, and interveners can foster a web of intermediary relationships across social divides. The book draws upon his practitioner experiences in Nigeria, Syria, Myanmar, and Taiwan–Mainland China–U.S. relations. Dr. Arai is also conducting research on Global Challenges and Contextual Transformation, examining how emerging technological and socio-economic shifts—such as artificial intelligence, bioengineering, and the global transition to renewable energy—are likely to alter the foundational assumptions and contexts of peacebuilding and conflict transformation (link to a webinar). He serves on the editorial board of Peace Studies.

Practice

In terms of applied peacemaking practice, Dr. Arai regularly serves as a mediator, dialogue facilitator, trainer, coach, mentor, and designer of systemic social change processes in diverse conflict-affected countries and regions, mostly upon invitation. Illustrative examples of his recent and/or ongoing peacemaking practice include:

  • Strait Talk (2005–present): Co-leads a nonpartisan, multinational dialogue movement for peacemaking across the Taiwan Strait, regularly facilitates Interactive Conflict Resolution (ICR) workshops, and helped develop the growing network of 1,200 emerging civil society leaders from both sides of the Strait, as well as from the United States and Japan (link to a journal article).

  • Burma Initiative (2013–present): Organized 27 peacebuilding workshops for 580 members of Burmese civil society, including political party leaders, influential religious figures, youth activists, and women leaders in Rakhine, Shan, Mandalay, Yangon, and other regions (link to a journal article). Actively contributed to the development of UNESCO Myanmar’s peace education guides and curriculum, as well as Burmese civil society organizations and networks.

  • Demobilization, Reintegration, and Reconciliation in Northeastern Nigeria (2016–2018): As a consultant for a UN agency, co-led the establishment of the pioneering Muslim–Christian, multi-ethnic reconciliation committee in Gwoza, Borno State—the former heartland of Boko Haram’s armed insurgency (link to an article). This model of broad-based community-led mobilization has since been adapted and replicated in eight additional townships across Northeastern Nigeria.

  • Mediation Training in Syria and Lebanon (2014–2018): As a consultant for a UN agency, conducted six workshops for Syrian and Lebanese professionals in humanitarian assistance and psychosocial support. Participants included staff from government ministries, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society networks serving populations affected by the war in Syria (link to a journal article).

  • Capacity Building for Diplomats from the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) (2018–2022): Delivered three training courses on mediation and conflict resolution in Turkey for diplomats from OIC member states.

Additionally, Dr. Arai has undertaken multi-year peacebuilding initiatives in Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Oman, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and in Japan–China relations (East China Sea), among other contexts. He is currently building new initiatives in Bangladesh (transitional justice, democratic transition) and Israel–Palestine relations (action research on intra-national dialogue and platform development). 

Dr. Arai lives with his tri-national family in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He speaks English and Japanese and has functional competency in French.

Books

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles and Book Chapters (selected)

Commissioned Reports, Training Guides, and Other Writings (Selected)

Media and Social Media Appearances (Selected)

A request for a PDF version of any of the publications which may not be found above as well as all forms of inquiry on peacebuilding practice and policy support are welcome at tarai@kent.edu.  

Education

PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University, Virginia (2005)
MA in International Policy Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California (2002)
BA in Law, Waseda University, Tokyo (1993)
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