Mag.
Bernardo Mariani
Affiliated Researcher
Mag. Bernardo Mariani is an international peace and security consultant with 30 years of experience across civil society, governments, multilaterals, and businesses in Asia, Africa, and Europe. He has specialized expertise in China and global security issues. Currently a senior research consultant at the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform (PeaceRep) at the University of Edinburgh, Bernardo focuses on China’s global engagement and security approach. He has previously led the China Programme at Saferworld, held research positions at Amnesty International, and consulted for the UNODC and the European Commission. He is the author of numerous publications on international peace and security.
Vita
Education
- Magister Degree in Political Science, University ‘La Sapienza’, Rome, Italy (1993)
Work Experience
- Senior Research Consultant, Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform – PeaceRep (University of Edinburgh) (2021-ongoing)
- Senior Partner, PROJEKTkompetenz.eu, Gesellschaft für Projektentwicklung und management m.b.H. (2017-ongoing)
- Senior Consultant, Austrian Centre for Peace (ACP) (2024-ongoing)
- Director, Saferworld Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (2019-2021)
- China Programme Head, Saferworld (2008-2021)
- Consultant, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2008)
- Consultant, European Commission, EuropeAid Cooperation Office (2007)
- Programme Manager – Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Saferworld (2003-2007)
- Project Coordinator – Southeastern and Eastern Europe, Saferworld (2001-2003)
- Network Coordinator, Saferworld (1999-2001)
- Researcher, Amnesty International, International Secretariat (1998-1999)
- Campaigner, Amnesty International, International Secretariat (1997-1998)
- Research and Campaign Assistant – Southern Africa Programme, Amnesty International, International Secretariat (1995-1996)
Selected Publications
- Mediating Peace in a Fragmented World Order: The Evolving Role of European Mediators, Austrian Centre for Peace (2025)
- International mediation: the role and impact of emerging powers, Austrian Centre for Peace (2024)
- China’s Global Security Blueprint – Implications for Western Security Agency, 9DashLine (2024)
- China’s global security vision in a changing world, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2024)
- China’s Stance on the War in Ukraine: Implications for Conflict Management and Resolution, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2024)
- China’s Peace Efforts in Ukraine, London School of Economics and Political Science (2023)
- Internationalisation of the Taiwan Question: Lessons for UK and Wider Europe, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2023)
- The Role of Domestic Actors in China’s International Conflict Management, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2023)
- The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and the Belt and Road Initiative: Meeting the World’s Infrastructure Gaps amid Geopolitical Competition, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2023)
- Sino-European relations amid the war in Ukraine, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2022)
- China’s Engagement in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings: The Quest for Stability, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2022)
- Russia’s Engagement in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings: Growing Geopolitical Ambitions and “Peace by Force”, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2022)
- China’s Approaches to Conflict Management, London School of Economics and Political Science (2022)
- Fragmentation of Peacemaking in South Sudan: Reality and Perception, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2022)
- Fragmentation of Peacemaking in Libya: Reality and Perception, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2022)
- Fragmentation of Peacemaking in Syria: Reality and Perception, PeaceRep/University of Edinburgh (2022)
- Public perceptions of the Belt and Road Initiative: Guiding ‘win-wins’ for people, business and policy makers, Saferworld (2021)
- China’s arms exports to sub-Saharan Africa, Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI) (2021)
- The Belt and Road Initiative: promoting peace in a post-pandemic world, Saferworld (2020)
- ‘Belt and Road 2.0’: engaging the business sector, Saferworld (2019)
- Finding common ground: US-China cooperation along the Belt and Road, Saferworld (2019)
- China, Africa and the Arms Trade Treaty, in China and Africa – Building Peace and Security Cooperation on the Continent, Palgrave Macmillan (2017)
- China’s Role in UN Peacekeeping Operations, in Handbook on China and Developing Countries, Edward Elgar Publishing (2016)
- Enhancing EU-China cooperation on peace and security, Saferworld (2016)
- EU-China Security Cooperation in Africa, Friends of Europe (2016)
- Expanding and sustaining dialogue between China and the Wassenaar Arrangement, Saferworld (2015)
- Central Asia at a crossroads: Russia and China’s changing roles in the region and the implications for peace and stability, Saferworld (2015)
- Shifting geopolitics in Central Asia: The roles of China, Russia, India, and Turkey, Saferworld (2013)
- China and conflict-affected states: Between principle and pragmatism, Saferworld (2012)
- China’s growing role in African peace and security, Saferworld (2011)
- Starting to Build? China’s Role in UN Peace Operations, Austrian Institute for International Relations (2011)
- Enhancing EU Action to Prevent Illicit Small Arms Trafficking, UNIDIR (2005)
- Weapons under scrutiny, Centre for the Study of Democracy (2004)
- Arms production, exports and decision making in Central and Eastern Europe, Saferworld (2002)
- Organised crime, corruption and illicit arms trafficking in an enlarged EU, Saferworld (2001)
- Transparency and accountability in European arms export controls, Saferworld (2000)
- 10 Basic Human Rights Standards for Law Enforcement Officials, Amnesty International (1998)