As we look ahead to 2025, let us make peace our greatest wish – a peace that begins within ourselves, radiates into our communities, and reaches every corner of the globe. Thank you to all of our partners, colleagues, and members for your continued and vital support that make the work of CDP possible.
Merry Christmas, and may 2025 bring healing, harmony, and joy.
Reflecting at the midway point of this year’s Centre for Democracy and Peace Fellowship Programme, this year’s Fellows have described an “infectious enthusiasm” for collaboration and innovate thinking as they tackle Northern Ireland’s most pressing political, business, and civic challenges.
CDP Programme Co-Ordinator Nicole Fintel shares her thoughts on the gaps in the climate agenda that leaders must collectively address.
Focus, focus, Fcous. CDPB programme manager Zachary Hutchinson asks the question, “how do I minimise the risk of leading myself and others in the wrong direction?
We find ourselves in a cultural moment of uncertainty as domestic and global challenges persist. Whether it is the cost of living crisis, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, or the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, leadership is required more than ever and the importance of peace building critical. This year has been dubbed the year of voting, with more than two billion people heading to the polls in 2024. Quite simply, it is the biggest election year in history. And yet, democracy has never felt so fragile; it seems to be on the ballot itself.
Leadership is often perceived as a final destination, a pinnacle reached after years of experience and hard work. However, I believe it’s how you approach the journey that sets you apart and to be an agent for change you must embrace opportunities to learn from others.
People often ask me if Russia’s political atmosphere felt different. They are often so curious because it is so uniquely Russian. Leadership in Russia is culturally specific, but it is not in touch with the masses and its Achilles Heel is the fact that it is so separated from the experiences of many.
A day of meeting, discussion and sharing of practice convened by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building and Irish Museum of Modern Art.
The Centre for Democracy and Peace Building has opened applications for its 2024/25 Fellowship Programme for leaders in politics, business, and civic society in Northern Ireland.
Traditionally, the leadership literature landscape has heavily featured a dominant individual perspective: the hero leader figure. Even today, the understanding of leadership often ends up with a blurred distinction between hero and leader as leadership is still often perceived as an individual level phenomenon. But the time for heroes has been fading away and a new understanding of leadership is emerging. Leadership mustn’t be confused with a leader or set of leaders. Indeed, the two are very different. When we consider leadership, a leader may spring to our minds, yet leadership will rarely play out solely on an individual level; rather leadership is a complex and dynamic process.