Shaazka Beyerle's Page

What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?

Having witnessed poverty and injustice in many parts of the world and having lived in the midst of a violent conflict, I made the decision to work in the realm of civic empowerment and nonviolent action. My professional orientation at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) is devoted to education about the history, strategies and methods of civic engagement and nonviolent action to achieve social change, rights, justice, equality, and accountability of institutions and governments – which constitute some of the core elements for just and lasting peace.

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

Shaazka Beyerle is an educator and researcher on people power and civic action, and a Senior Advisor with the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. She has published articles/op-eds on nonviolent strategies and methods, the Middle East, foreign affairs, culture, literature, nonfiction, and art in: Al Hayat/Dar Al Hayat; CommonDreams.org; Daily Star (Lebanon); EthicsWorld.org; European Affairs; Europe Magazine; Foreign Policy; Georgetown Journal of International Affairs; The Independent; International Herald Tribune; openDemocracy.net; TruthOut.org; and the Washington Times. She was previously a writer, with expertise in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Until 2004, she covered the Middle East and Southern Africa for WorldView Magazine (National Peace Corps Association). She teaches and speaks about civic empowerment and strategic nonviolent action at international workshops, seminars and conferences around the world.

Ms. Beyerle lived in Jerusalem from 1997-2000. While overseas, she consulted twice with the Bethlehem 2000 Project. She was also the International Press Manager for the Jerusalem Film Festival (2000). Prior to moving to the Middle East, Ms. Beyerle was the founding Vice President of The European Institute in Washington, DC. She holds an M.A. in International Relations from George Washington University, a B.A. in Psychology and Women’s Studies from the University of Toronto.

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise

Palestine/Israel
Middle East
Southern Africa

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

USA

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

Senior Advisor, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. Realms of interest include: civic action to fight corruption; nonviolent struggle in the Arab and Muslim worlds, the roles of youth and women for movements/campaigns for human rights and justice

How many years professional experience do you have ?

6-10

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Anti-Corruption, Civil Society, Democratization, Gender, Human Rights, Media, Rule of Law, Transparency

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Communication, Research, Training

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

Civic action to fight corruption

If appropriate feel free to list several of your (or your organization's) publications

Beyerle, Shaazka. "Iran's leaders fear their own people most." Daily Star (Lebanon), July 3, 2009.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=...

Beyerle, Shaazka. "Courage, Creativity and Capacity in Iran: Mobilizing for Women's Rights and Gender Equality," Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, Summer/Fall 2008.

Beyerle, Shaazka and Cynthia Boaz. "The Power of Nonviolent Action." International Herald Tribune, October 18, 2007.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/18/opinion/edbeyerle.php

Beyerle, Shaazka. “Turkey to Pakistan: Civic Action for Change.” openDemocracy.net, April 3, 2007.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-india_pakistan/turkey_pakist...

Beyerle, Shaazka and Stephen Zunes. “Mobilizing Civic Action to End Corruption.” Paper for 12th International Anti-Corruption Conference, Guatemala City, November 2006.
http://www.12iacc.org/archivos/WS_8.1_SHAASKA_BEYERLE.PDF