
Tatsushi Arai
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
- Arai, T. and M. Tadevosyan, eds. 2025. Functional Coexistence in Socio-political Conflict: Enabling Social Change Across Decades. London: Routledge. (Open access publication; video abstract)
- Arai, T, S. Goto, and Z. Wang, eds. 2015. Contested Memories and Reconciliation Challenges: Japan and the Asia-Pacific on the 70th Anniversary of the End of World War II. Washington DC: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
- Arai, T., S. Goto, and Z. Wang, eds. 2013. Clash of National Identities: China, Japan, and the East China Sea Territorial Dispute. Washington DC: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
- Arai, T. 2009. Creativity and Conflict Resolution: Alternative Pathways to Peace. London: Routledge. (Paperback 2012; sample chapters.)
- LeBaron, M. and V. Pillay (as lead authors), and T. Arai, N. Carstarphen, and K. Bhangoo. 2006. Conflict across Cultures: A Unique Experience of Bridging Differences. Boston: Intercultural Press. (Sample chapters.)
Peer-reviewed Journal Articles and Book Chapters (selected)
- Arai, T. 2023. Engaging Conflict History and Memory Across the Taiwan Strait: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Conflict Timelines from Interactive Conflict Resolution (ICR) Dialogues. Negotiation Journal. January.
- Arai, T. 2022. Functional Coexistence in Intractable Conflict: A Decades-Long View of Conflict Intervention. Peace and Change 47: 1-34.
- Arai, T. 2021. Conflict Resolution and Historical reconciliation in East Asia: Lessons from China-Taiwan Civil Society Dialogues. In: Development in Reconciliation Studies: Memories, Emotions, and Values – Series for the Development in Reconciliation Studies 1: Principles and Methods, ed. Toyomi Asano. Tokyo: Akashi Shoten Publisher. (In Japanese; English summary)
- Arai, T and J.B. Niyonzima. 2019. Learning Together to Heal: Toward an Integrated Practice of Transpersonal Psychology, Experiential Learning, and Neuroscience for Collective Healing. Peace and Conflict Studies 26 (2). [Action research in Rwanda]
- Arai, T. 2019. Conflict Intervention Training as Strategic Convening: Lessons from Syria. Journal of Peacebuilding and Development 14 (3).
- Arai, T. 2017. Toward a Buddhist Theory of Conflict Transformation: From Simple Actor-Oriented Conflict to Complex Structural Conflict. Peace and Conflict Studies 24 (2). [Action research in Myanmar]
- Arai, T., E. Babbitt, K. P. Clements, S. Lodgaard, and C. Satha-Anand. 2017. The Role of Walls, Barriers, and Boundaries in National and International Affairs: Typology, Underlying Trends, and Implications for Conflict Resolution. In Risk and Uncertainty: Understanding and Dialogue in the 21st Century, edited by K.P. Clements and O. Urbain. London: Routledge.
- Arai, T. 2015. Toward a Buddhist Theory of Structural Peace: Lessons from Myanmar in Transition. Peace and Conflict Studies 22 (1).
- Arai, T. 2015. Engaging Conflict History: Toward an Integrated Method of Conflict Resolution Dialogue and Capacity-Building. Conflict Resolution Quarterly 32 (3).
- Arai, T. 2012. Rebuilding Pakistan in the Aftermath of the Floods: Disaster Relief as Conflict Prevention. Journal of Peacebuilding and Development 7 (1).
Commissioned Reports, Training Guides, and Other Writings (Selected)
- Arai, T. 2022. A New Helsinki Process: Restoring Pragmatic Order in Europe. Transcend Media Service. June 20. [Ukraine, Russia, Finland, and Sweden]
- Arai, T. 2022. General Principles of Conflict Resolution and Their Implications for the Security Crisis in Northern Burkina Faso. Policy brief. January 2022. (In French and English.)
- Arai, T, M. Ragueneau, and G. Schinina. 2019. Integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Conflict Transformation and Mediation. Chapter in The Manual for Community-Based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. International Organization for Migration (IOM), Geneva. (Served as an IOM scientific committee for the production of the manual.)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with T. Arai as the principal author. 2018. Enacting a Culture of Peace: Adult Learners’ Guide to Peace Education in Myanmar. Yangon, Myanmar: UNESCO Myanmar. (In Burmese; English description.)
- Arai, T. 2018. Demobilization, Dissociation, Reintegration, and Reconciliation in Northeastern Nigeria: Findings from the Field Research and Capacity-Building Activities. Report for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) - a UN migration agency.
- Arai, T. 2018. Repatriation and Reconciliation Challenges in Northeastern Nigeria: Toward an Integrated Framework of Analysis and Action. Conflict Trends 1.
- Arai, T. 2017. Conflict-Sensitive Repatriation: Lessons from Displaced Communities in Northeastern Nigeria. Conflict Trends 1.
- Arai, T. 2017. Promoting Interreligious Harmony in Myanmar: A Guide to Training and Dialogue. Yangon, Myanmar: Peaceful Myanmar Initiatives. Commissioned by the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), Vienna.
- Arai, T. 2017. Realising Peace Potential of Constitution. The Kathmandu Post. February 20. [Nepal]
- Arai, T. 2016. Lessons from the Swiss Experience of Nation-Building: Implications for Multi-National Societies in Conflict. Japanese Journal of European Studies 4.
- Arai, T. 2015. Syria, Lebanon, and the Middle East: Enabling a War-to-Peace Transition. Transcend Media Service March 9.
- Arai, T. 2012. Development Sensitivity for Reconciliation: Lessons Learned from Rwanda. Conflict Trends 4.
Media and Social Media Appearances (Selected)
- TED Talk – Dialogue in the Midst of Conflict: Searching for Security in the Age of Globalization. University of California, San Diego, June 20, 2014.
- Webinar – International Peacemaking in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Toward a Theory of Contextual Transformation. Kent State University, December 14, 2023.
- Webinar – Functional Coexistence in Socio-Political Conflict: Enabling Social Change Across Decades. International Studies Association (ISA) Book Launch Webinar, January 31, 2025.
- Podcast – The “Jackie Chan” of Peace. Social Change Career Podcast Interview with T. Arai. Fall 2018.
- Podcast – Peace Education for Global Citizenship: Focus on Culture, Experiential Learning, and Digital Technologies in the Asia-Pacific, December 23, 2024.
- Seminar – Humanizing the Conflict Across the Taiwan Strait: Lessons from Strait Talk. The George Washington University. November 2, 2023.
- Keynote – Peace Research from Within Peace Practice: Discovering the Untapped Potential of Reflective Practice for Research Innovation. Inaugural Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference, sponsored by Nova Southeastern University, Florida, February 10, 2021.
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
MA in International Policy Studies, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California (2002)
BA in Law, Waseda University, Tokyo (1993)