Mareike Schomerus, PhD, is a widely published researcher and commentator, as well as co-editor of volumes on African secessionism and the borderlands of South Sudan. Her recent work merges behavioural science with the qualitative study of violent conflict, political contestation and governance.
'Schomerus has written the definitive account of the Juba Peace Talks. Based on unrivalled access to the LRA, she shows that the political and interpersonal dynamics around the Talks were as important as the formal negotiations in determining whether peace could be achieved. This is a must-read analysis of a watershed peace process in the era of the ICC.' Phil Clark, School of Oriental and African Studies 'A unique combination of first-person account of interviews and events with theoretical arguments that help to explain her experiences in the bush with the Lord's Resistance Army ... It provides behind-the-scenes accounts of who, when, where, why, and how the negotiations took place, and why they ended as they did. This is ground-breaking material that has never before been widely available. Schomerus puts the nitty-gritty of negotiations and the complexity of the peace process under the microscope. A riveting account.' Joanna R. Quinn, Western University 'An important and timely book. The subjects of the Lord's Resistance Army and Joseph Kony can be easily sensationalised. Schomerus instead takes a patient approach to unpack the violent systems that sustained the LRA, and provides a detailed account of the various attempts to make peace. The result is a very valuable addition to our stock of knowledge. The book has many wider lessons for long peace processes that occur against a backdrop of violent uncertainty. Highly recommended.' Roger Mac Ginty, Durham University 'The book's rich and nuanced theoretical insights and the empirical ground that it covers makes it an invaluable reference for conflict studies and peace building in Africa and elsewhere. Its methodology and its close observation of processes and participants results in a uniquely appealing and elegant narrative.' Moses Khisa, Journal of Interdisciplinary History