Joana Maria Veloso do Amaral (A91B-B25F-0790)

Curriculum Vitae

Joana Maria Veloso do Amaral

Dr. Joana Amaral holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of Kent, UK and is currently an Assistant Researcher at the Center for Social Studies at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. The author of "Making Peace with Referendums: Cyprus and Northern Ireland" (Syracuse University Press: New York, 2019), her publications focus on various topics related to peace negotiations and mediation, such as public communication, peace referendums, armed groups, the inclusion of opposition movements and civil society, and the use of sanctions in peacemaking. Her most recent positions were as Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Marburg and Researcher and Project Manager at the Berghof Foundation in Berlin, both in Germany. Her work on peace processes has particularly focused on Colombia, Northern Ireland and Cyprus. Throughout her research and practitioner work she has engaged with numerous negotiators, stakeholders and civil society activists in various peace processes and has worked and collaborated with different peace institutions and NGOs around the world, such as the United Nations, the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) in Cyprus, the German-Colombian Peace Institute CAPAZ in Bogota and the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace Security and Justice at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Read full resume ↓

Identification

Personal identification

Full name: Joana Maria Veloso do Amaral

Citation names

Amaral, Joana

Author identifiers

Ciência ID: A91B-B25F-0790
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7000-1530
Google Scholar ID: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=oz6oDNoAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&gmla=APjjwuahHKOFvRI_28u0OxiyupS5nTgdYC5kY_p8L7yuLGlh1_qoa2ZQqvg4DufpnYvvCQkuS2ha0-zL7EH_h5tc
Researcher Id: DRV-2892-2022
Scopus Author Id: 57200859303

Websites

https://www.ces.uc.pt/pt/ces/pessoas/investigadoras-es/joana-amaral (Professional)
https://uc-pt.academia.edu/JoanaAmaral (Social media)

Knowledge fields

Social Sciences - Political Sciences

Languages

Language	Speaking	Reading	Writing	Listening	Peer-review
Portuguese (Mother tongue)
English	Proficiency (C2)	Proficiency (C2)	Proficiency (C2)	Proficiency (C2)	Proficiency (C2)
Spanish; Castilian	Proficiency (C2)	Proficiency (C2)	Advanced (C1)	Proficiency (C2)	Proficiency (C2)
German	Intermediate (B1)	Intermediate (B1)	Intermediate (B1)	Intermediate (B1)	Intermediate (B1)

Education

	Degree	Classification
2012/09/16 - 2017/04/26 Concluded	International Relations (Doctor) Major in Conflict Analysis University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, United Kingdom "Negotiations with Peace Settlement Referendums: Comparing the Annan Plan and Good Friday Agreement Experiences (https://kar.kent.ac.uk/63870/)" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	Pass with no corrections / Summa Cum Laude (mérito máximo)
2009/10/01 - 2012/03/15 Concluded	International Relations (Master's Degree) Major in Peace and Conflict Studies Universidade do Minho Escola de Economia e Gestão, Portugal "Mediator of Third Party? : A Holistic Approach to Mediation in Cyprus" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	Thesis defense: 18 Final Mark: 16
2001/10/01 - 2006/02/15 Concluded	International Relations (Licenciate Degree) Major in Economic and Political International Relations Universidade do Minho Escola de Economia e Gestão, Portugal "Not applicable" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)	15

Affiliation

Science

	Category Host institution	Employer
2025/05/01 - Current	Auxiliary Researcher (Research)	Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
	Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Estudos Sociais, Portugal
2022/03/01 - 2024/04	Researcher (Research)	Independent Research Consultant, Germany

2020/09/01 - 2022/02/28	Researcher (Research)	Berghof Forschungszentrum für konstruktive Konfliktbearbeitung, Germany

2018/01/01 - 2021/02/28	Postdoc (Research)	University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany

2019/06/01 - 2019/07/31	Visiting Researcher (Research)	German-Colombian Peace Institute CAPAZ, Colombia

2017/09/01 - 2018/05/15	Contracted Researcher (Research)	United Nations University Policy Center, Japan

2014/03/03 - 2016/12/31	Research Assistant (Research)	University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, United Kingdom

2013/09/23 - 2014/09/30	Visiting Researcher (Research)	University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany

2014/06/09 - 2014/07/18	Visiting Researcher (Research)	Queen's University Belfast - The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute For Global Peace, Security And Justice, United Kingdom

2014/02/01 - 2014/02/28	Visiting Researcher (Research)	Peace Research Institute Oslo Cyprus Center, Cyprus
	Peace Research Institute Oslo Cyprus Center, Cyprus

Teaching in Higher Education

	Category Host institution	Employer
2026/09 - 2027/03	Assistant Professor (University Teacher)	Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Economia, Portugal
	Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2015/07/01 - 2021/02/28	Assistant (University Teacher)	University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany

2012/12/01 - 2013/06/14	Assistant (University Teacher)	University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, United Kingdom

Projects

Grant

	Designation	Funders
2018/01/01 - 2018/12/31	Bridging Scholarship - to Enable Outstanding Female Scholars with a PhD to Further Their Academic Career N/A Post-doc Fellow University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany	Marburg University Research Academy (MARA) Concluded
2015/04/15 - 2017/11/27	Elite Mediation and Grassroots Support for Peace Settlements: Differential Community Support in Cyprus and Northern Ireland SFRH/BD/99489/2014 PhD Student Fellow University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, United Kingdom Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Concluded
2013/09/01 - 2014/09/30	Visiting Researcher Scholarship N/A Researcher University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany	Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Concluded
2014/01/15 - 2014/02/28	PIO Fieldwork Grant N/A Researcher University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, United Kingdom	Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus Concluded

Contract

	Designation	Funders
2025/05/01 - 2031/04/30	Public Enemies: Transforming Political Discourse in Peace Processes involving Armed Groups 2023.08434.CEECIND/CP2885/CT0005 10.54499/2023.08434.CEECIND/CP2885/CT0005 Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Estudos Sociais, Portugal	Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Ongoing
2021/10/01 - 2022/02/28	Research Consultancy on UNDP Staff's Engagement with Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) N/A Researcher Berghof Forschungszentrum für konstruktive Konfliktbearbeitung, Germany	United Nations Development Programme Ongoing
2019/01/01 - 2021/02/28	A Public Peace Process? Progress Disclosure in Peace Negotiations in Colombia and Northern Ireland N/A Post-doc Fellow Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany	Deutsche Stiftung Friedensforschung Concluded
2017/09/01 - 2018/05/15	Sanctions and Mediation Project N/A Researcher United Nations University Policy Center, Japan	Eidgenössische Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten Concluded

Outputs

Publications

Book	Amaral, Joana. Making Peace with Referendums: Cyprus and Northern Ireland. Syracuse, United States: Syracuse University Press. 2019. Published
Book chapter	Amaral, Joana. "Confidencialidad y la Estrategia Comunicacional en las Negociaciones de Paz entre el Gobierno y el ELN". In Un Proceso de Paz Inacabado: Negociaciones de Paz Entre el Gobierno Colombiano y el Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) (2010-2019), edited by Mouli, Cécile; Hernandez, Esperanza. Switzerland: Peter Lang, 2024. Published Amaral, Joana. "The Covid 19 Humanitarian Ceasefires and Ongoing Challenges for Resistance and Liberation Movements in Peace Negotiations". In On Negotiating Peace: A Compilation of Strategic Frameworks based on the Perspectives of Resistance and Liberation Movements, 148-157. Berlin, Germany: Berghof Foundation, 2022. Published Amaral, Joana. "Peacemaking Referendums: Advantages and Challenges for Peace Processes". In Contemporary Peacemaking - Peace Processes, Peacebuilding and Conflict, edited by Mac Ginty, Roger; Wanis-St. John, Anthony, 141-157. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, 2022. Published
Edited book	Amaral, Joana; Dr. Véronique Dudouet; Karin Göldner-Ebenthal; Jonathan Harlander; Katrin Planta; Nico Schernbeck; Vanessa Prinz; Luxshi Vimalarajah, ed. On Negotiating Peace: A Compilation of Strategic Frameworks based on the Perspectives of Resistance and Liberation Movements. Berlin, Germany: Berghof Foundation. 2022. Published • Editor
Journal article	Joana Amaral. "UN Sanctions and Mediation in Sierra Leone". Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations 28 2 (2022): 274-293. https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-02802001. Published • 10.1163/19426720-02802001 Amaral, Joana. "Civil Society and Peace Referendums: Inclusion and Campaign Mobilization in Northern Ireland and Cyprus". Nationalism and Ethnic Politics 27 3 (2021): 370-388. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13537113.2021.1917288?journalCode=fnep20. Published • 10.1080/13537113.2021.1917288 Amaral, Joana. "Spoiling in the Public Sphere: Opposition to Peace Processes and the Referendum Campaign in Colombia". International Negotiation 26 3 (2021): 453-478. https://brill.com/view/journals/iner/26/3/article-p453_6.xml?language=en. Published • 10.1163/15718069-bja10014 Amaral, Joana. "Do peace negotiations shape settlement referendums?". Cooperation and Conflict 53 3 (2018): 356-374. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0010836717737569. Published • 10.1177/0010836717737569 Amaral, Joana. "Multiparty Mediation in Cyprus 1963-1964". Cyprus Review 25 2 (2013): 73-88. http://www.unic.ac.cy/research/publications/the-cyprus-review/contents-volume-21-and-onwards. Published
Report	Amaral, Joana. 2023. A public peace process? Progress Disclosure in the Colombian Peace Negotiations (2012-2016). https://bundesstiftung-friedensforschung.de/blog/forschung-dsf-no-55/. Amaral, Joana; Dr. Véronique Dudouet. 2022. Engaging Non-State Armed Groups for Peacebuilding and Development Aims: Challenges and Best Practices. Amaral, Joana. 2019. When the People Have the Final Say: Lessons from Referendums in Peace Processes. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep25395?seq=1. Amaral, Joana; Lansana Gberie. 2018. UN Sanctions and Mediation in Sierra Leone.
Thesis / Dissertation	"Negotiations with Peace Settlement Referendums: Comparing the Annan Plan and Good Friday Agreement Experiences". PhD, University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, 2017. https://kar.kent.ac.uk/63870/. "Mediator of third party? : a holistic approach to mediation in Cyprus". Master, Universidade do Minho, 2011. https://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/handle/1822/18816.
Working paper	Joana Amaral. 2015. "Pre-emptive or Preventive Mediation? High Level Mediation in the Widened Preventive Diplomacy Agenda". https://open.uni-marburg.de/server/api/core/bitstreams/8561d377-4708-43e7-8ac2-3ae4989797c3/content. 10.17192/es2019.0014 Amaral, Joana. 2014. "Mediating Among the Elites and the Grassroots: A Research Design on Differential Community Support for Peace Settlements in Cyprus and Northern Ireland". http://www.gpsg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Working_Paper_17.pdf.

Activities

Oral presentation

	Presentation title	Event name Host (Event location)
2026/09/04	Discourses in Transition: A comparison of political discourses in the Colombian and Basque peace processes	19th Pan-European Conference on International Relations European International Studies Association (EISA) (Lisbon, Portugal)
2026/05/11	Discourses in Transition: A study of the evolution of political discourses during peace processes	Conflict and Negotiations in Complex and Fragmented Scenarios: A Research-Practice Nexus Workshop Swisspeace (Basel, Switzerland)
2023/06/21	Confidentiality and Public Communication in the Government-ELN Negotiations	Lateinamerika nach links, nach rechts oder andersrum? Perspektiven des Friedensprozesses zwischen der kolumbianischen Regierung und der ELN (2010-2019) Europäische Akademie Berlin / Politikum Ecuador (Berlin, Germany)
2023/05/19	Comunicación pública y confidencialidad en las negociaciones de paz Gobierno-ELN	Una paz aplazada, pero urgente y necesaria. Proceso de paz entre el Gobierno colombiano y el Ejército de Liberación Nacional (2010-2019) - Book Launch FLACSO Ecuador (Quito, Ecuador)
2022/03/10	Peacemaking and the Public Sphere	Research Colloquium Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (Boston, United States)
2021/04/06	Confidentiality and Progress Disclosure in the Colombian Negotiations (2012-2016)	International Studies Association (ISA) Conference 2021 International Studies Association (Virtual, United States)
2020/10/28	A Public Timing? Confidentiality and Public Communication in the Colombian Peace Negotiations	Zentrumstage Conference Center for Conflict Studies, University of Marburg (Marburg, Germany)
2020/07/16	Peacemaking and the Public Sphere: Confidentiality and Public Communication in the Colombian Negotiations	International Association for Conflict Management Virtual Conference International Association for Conflict Management (IACM) (Virtual, United States)
2020/01/17	UN Sanctions and Mediation in Sierra Leone	Policy Uptake Event ‘UN Sanctions and Mediation: Complementarities and Complications’ Graduate Institute Geneva (Geneva, Switzerland)
2019/03/27	Peace Negotiations with Settlement Referendums: The Cypriot and Northern Irish Experiences Compared	International Studies Association (ISA) Conference International Studies Association (Toronto, Canada)
2019/03/18	Sierra Leone: UN Sanctions and Spoiler Management	International Studies Association (ISA) Conference International Studies Association (Toronto, Canada)
2018/02/23	Civil Society in Peace Settlement Referendums: Inclusivity and the Referendum Campaigns in Cyprus and Northern Ireland	International Studies Association (ISA) Conference International Studies Association (San Francisco, United States)
2017/03/16	Peace Settlement Referendums: A New Dimension of Success in Peace Negotiations	Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (AfK) and European Peace Research Association (EuPRa) Joint Conference Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Friedens- und Konfliktforschung (AfK) (Schwerte, Germany)
2017/02/23	Mediation Style and Referendum Outcomes: Re-assessing the Effectiveness of Mediation Strategies in Cyprus and Northern Ireland	International Studies Association (ISA) Conference International Studies Association (Baltimore, United States)
2016/03/18	The Process Determinants of Support for Peace Settlements in the Annan Plan and Good Friday Agreement Referendums	International Studies Association (ISA) Conference International Studies Association (Atlanta, United States)
2015/09/14	Process vs Outcome: Elite Mediation and Communities’ Support for Peace Settlements in Cyprus and Northern Ireland	UK Conflict Research Society Annual Conference University of Kent Politics and International Relations (Canterbury, United Kingdom)
2015/02/17	Getting to the ‘Yes’ Vote: Conflict Mediation and Communities’ Support for Peace Settlements in Cyprus and Northern Ireland	International Studies Association (ISA) Conference International Studies Association (New Orleans, United States)
2014/03/29	Elite Mediation and the Cypriot Communities’ Support for the Annan Plan	International Studies Association (ISA) Conference International Studies Association (Toronto, Canada)
2013/06/20	Mediating Among the Elites and the Grassroots: Explaining Differential Community Support in the Good Friday Agreement and Annan Plan Referendums	British International Studies Association Conference and Exhibition (BISA) University of Birmingham (Birmingham, United Kingdom)
2013/06/06	Mediating Among the Elites and the Grassroots	6th Hellenic Observatory Symposium London School of Economics and Political Science (London, United Kingdom)
2011/11/16	Chipre: De Conflito Intra-estadual a Problema Diplomático Internacional (Cyprus: From Intrastate Conflict to International Diplomatic Problem	OBSERVARE Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (Lisbon, Portugal)

Supervision

	Thesis Title Role	Degree Subject (Type) Institution / Organization
2020/03/01 - 2020/09/30	Are We Helping or Hindering? The Impact of Third-party Mediations on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Supervisor	Joint Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies (Master) University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2020/03/01 - 2020/08/31	A Ripe Moment? The UN Secretary General Mediation and the Cyprus Negotiations 2014-2016 Supervisor	Joint Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies (Master) University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2019/03/01 - 2019/09/30	The Impact of Brexit on Loyalist Social Identity in Northern Ireland Supervisor	Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies (Master) University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2019/03/01 - 2019/08/31	Gender Equality in the Colombian Peace Process: Merely a Theoretical Objective? Supervisor	Joint Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies (Master) University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2015/03/01 - 2015/09/30	The Northern Ireland Women's Coalition and the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement - Why a Seat at the Table is Not Enough Supervisor	Double Masters in Peace and Conflict Studies (Master) University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany

Event organisation

	Event name Type of event (Role)	Institution / Organization
2013/01/01 - 2013/04/17	Member of the organizing committee of the Annual Politics and International Relations Postgraduate Research Conference at the University of Kent (2013/04/17 - 2013/04/17) Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)	University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, United Kingdom

Event participation

	Activity description Type of event	Event name Institution / Organization
2013/05/31 - 2013/05/31	Participant in the academic-practitioner exchange workshop ‘Lessons of Power-Sharing for Divided Societies Workshop	University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, United Kingdom

Ad Hoc journal article review

	Journal title (ISSN)	Publisher
2023/10/08 - 2023/10/08	Cooperation and Conflict (0010-8367)	Sage
2023/03/15 - 2023/04/26	Global Society (1360-0826)	Taylor and Francis
2019/08/01 - 2019/08/31	Journal of Contemporary European Studies	Routledge
2019/02/01 - 2019/02/28	Democratization	Taylor and Francis
2015/04/01 - 2015/04/30	International Peacekeeping	Taylor and Francis

Association member

	Society Organization name	Role
2020/01/31 - Current	International Association for Conflict Management (IACM)	Membro
2014/03/01 - Current	International Studies Association (ISA)	Membro
2015/03/01 - 2019/03/01	UK Conflict Research Society	Intern
2014/02/01 - 2016/12/31	Cyprus Academic Dialogue	Membro

Committee member

	Activity description Role	Institution / Organization
2019/03/01 - 2022/02/28	Executive Commissioner, International Studies Association (ISA) Peace Section. Advisor / Consultant	International Studies Association, United States

Consulting

	Activity description	Institution / Organization
2026/07/04 - 2027/01/06	External Evaluation of the Portuguese Operational Strategy for Humanitarian and Emergency Action (EOAHE) 2015–2022	Camões - Instituto da Cooperação e da Língua, Portugal

Course / Discipline taught

	Academic session	Degree Subject (Type)	Institution / Organization
2026/09 - 2027/03	Humanitarianism and Development	Relações Internacionais - Estudos da Paz, Segurança e Desenvolvimento / International Relations - Peace Studies, Security and Development (Integrated Master's Degree)	Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Economia, Portugal
2026/06/15 - 2026/06/22	Introduction to Peace Studies	(High School)	Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2026/03/13 - 2026/03/13	Peacemaking and the Public Sphere	PhD in International Politics and Conflict Resolution (Doctorate)	Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Economia, Portugal Universidade de Coimbra Centro de Estudos Sociais, Portugal
2018/10/07 - 2019/02/28	Peace Negotiations and Mediation	Master in Peace and Conflict Studies (Master)	University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2015/10/12 - 2018/11/24	Using Interviews in Research (Workshops)	Joint Master in Peace and Conflict Studies (Master)	University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2018/07/01 - 2018/08/15	Conflict Mediation in Europe	Hessen International Summer School (Bachelor)	University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2015/07/15 - 2015/08/01	Conflict Mediation in the Middle East	Hessen International Summer School (Bachelor)	University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2014/10/01 - 2015/03/31	Conflict Transformation and Peacemaking	Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies (Bachelor)	University of Marburg - Center for Conflict Studies, Germany
2013/01/01 - 2013/07/14	International History and International Relations	Politics and International Relations (Bachelor)	University of Kent Department of Politics and International Relations, United Kingdom

Evaluation committee

	Activity description Role	Institution / Organization	Funding entity
2021/10/01 - 2022/02/28	Member of the Research Ethics Board, Berghof Foundation Evaluator	Berghof Forschungszentrum für konstruktive Konfliktbearbeitung, Germany
2019/12/01 - 2019/12/15	Reviewer of application for a Senior Research Fellowship, to fund a research position for a visiting professor at the University of Bayreuth. Evaluator	Universität Bayreuth, Germany	Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Journal scientific committee

	Journal title (ISSN)	Publisher
2026/06/01 - Current	Cescontexto ( 2182-908X)	Center for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Portugal

Other jury / evaluation

	Activity description	Institution / Organization
2026/02/10 - 2026/02/26	Book proposal reviewer for Palgrave Macmillan	Palgrave Macmillan Ltd, United Kingdom

Distinctions

Award

2017	Kenneth Boulding Award Runner-Up for Best Graduate Student Paper in the Peace Studies Section International Studies Association, United States