Professor Michael Semple
Practitioner Chair
The Senator George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice
Professor Michael Semple works on innovative approaches to peace-making and engagement with militant Islamic movements in Afghanistan and South Asia.
His interests include the political culture of the Afghan Taliban and kindred militant Islamic movements, the role and potential of dialogue and social media in conflict transformation, and the challenge of pluralism in the post 9/11 Muslim world.
Professor Semple worked as a political officer in the United Nations team which helped to implement the Bonn Accord on Afghanistan after 2001 and served as Deputy EU Special Representative in the country. He continues to advise governments and parties involved in the Afghan peace process, at a senior level, informed by his ongoing research. He collaborates with international peace-related NGOs and think tanks, and engages with policy makers. He is active in the public and policy debate around conflict transformations and Afghanistan.
Fields
Conflict Transformation Global peace SecurityAreas of Expertise
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Taliban, terrorism, conflict resolution
Media Experience
Professor Semple has extensive media experience and has worked with a range of print, broadcast and online media.
Notable coverage
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Pakistan’s Pashtun rights movement grows, defies army, Kuwait Times 24/04/2018
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Pakistan Pashtun rights movement grows, defying military, Mail Online 24/04/2018
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Pakistan Pashtun rights movement grows, defying military, Bangkok Post 24/042018
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US, UAE missed chance to capture Taliban leader: Post, Aljazeera 25/03/2018
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Qatar Opens Its Doors to All, to the Dismay of Some, New York Times 16/07/2017
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Trump pushing Afghan president to close Taliban office in Qatar, sources say, The Guardian 26/09/2017
Video
Contact Information
For more information or to book an interview, email comms.office@qub.ac.uk
Academic Profile