In February 2026, Behavioral Scientist magazine, in collaboration with the peace science organization Neuropaz, convened a significant online event titled "Neuropaz 2026: Hard Truths and Paths Forward." This pivotal gathering aimed to explore the cutting edge of research and strategic thinking at the confluence of behavioral science and the complex domains of peace and conflict resolution. The event underscored the multifaceted challenges inherent in this critical field, including dwindling research funding, the amplification of societal divisions through digital technologies, and political landscapes often prioritizing power over peaceful resolutions. Neuropaz 2026 brought together a diverse assembly of leading scientists, seasoned practitioners, influential policymakers, and key funders to confront these obstacles directly, fostering open and candid dialogue to illuminate potential pathways toward a more peaceful future.
The initiative was spearheaded by Evan Nesterak, Editor-in-Chief of Behavioral Scientist, and Andrés Casas, Founder of Neuropaz. Their joint editorial commentary highlighted the urgent need to address the "hard truths" facing peacebuilding efforts, acknowledging the significant roadblocks that impede progress. These include not only the aforementioned funding constraints and the divisive nature of modern communication but also the deeply ingrained psychological biases and social dynamics that can perpetuate conflict. The event’s overarching theme, "Hard Truths and Paths Forward," served as a call to action, urging participants to confront uncomfortable realities while actively seeking innovative solutions grounded in scientific understanding.
A Legacy of Peacebuilding Honored
The event commenced with a foundational session introducing the program and setting the stage for the discussions to follow. Andrés Casas and Evan Nesterak provided an overview, emphasizing the event’s dedication to the memory and work of Emile Bruneau, a prominent figure whose contributions significantly shaped the intersection of behavioral science and peace studies. A brief video tribute to Bruneau underscored the enduring legacy of his research and advocacy.
A cornerstone of the Neuropaz 2026 program was the recognition of a decade of progress since the historic peace agreement in Colombia. In honor of this milestone, Neuropaz presented the inaugural Neuropaz Lifetime Achievement Award to Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia (2010-2018) and the architect of the nation’s peace process. President Santos engaged in a reflective conversation with Andrés Casas, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the agreement and detailing his ongoing commitment to peace through his work with Fundación Compaz. This segment provided a critical historical perspective, illustrating the long-term commitment and multifaceted efforts required to transition from conflict to lasting peace. The discussion underscored that peace is not merely the absence of violence but an active, ongoing process demanding sustained engagement and adaptation.
President Santos’s participation offered invaluable insights into the practical application of peacebuilding strategies, highlighting both the triumphs and the persistent challenges of implementing a comprehensive peace agreement. His reflections likely touched upon the complexities of reconciliation, transitional justice, and the reintegration of former combatants, all areas where behavioral science can offer profound understanding and practical interventions. The award served as a powerful acknowledgment of his leadership and the significant strides made in Colombia, while also serving as a reminder of the work yet to be done.
Applying Behavioral Science to Post-Conflict Recovery
Following President Santos’s address, the event delved into concrete applications of behavioral science in conflict resolution, with a specific focus on Colombia. Andrés Moya and Felipe De Brigard presented two lines of applied research that emerged in the wake of the 2016 Peace Agreement. These case studies served as compelling examples of how behavioral science principles are being leveraged to foster peace and prevent future conflicts. Their presentations likely detailed methodologies for understanding and influencing individual and community behaviors crucial for post-conflict stability.
The exploration of these Colombian initiatives provided tangible evidence of behavioral science’s potential to move beyond theoretical frameworks and into practical, on-the-ground interventions. Such applications could range from designing communication campaigns that promote social cohesion and reduce prejudice, to developing economic incentives that encourage participation in peace-building activities, or creating educational programs that foster empathy and understanding between former adversaries. The emphasis on applied research signals a maturing field where scientific rigor is increasingly being married with the urgent demands of real-world peacebuilding.
Understanding the Dynamics of Social Influence
Betsy Levy Paluck introduced the concept of "social gravity," a fundamental force in human social life that draws individuals towards shared ideas and behaviors within their social networks. She elaborated on how this concept influences behavior, particularly in contexts marked by conflict and division. Understanding social gravity is crucial for peacebuilding as it sheds light on how norms are established, spread, and reinforced within communities.
Paluck’s work likely highlighted how interventions can either leverage or counteract social gravity to promote positive change. For instance, identifying and empowering influential individuals within a community can help to shift prevailing norms towards peace and cooperation. Conversely, understanding how negative social forces amplify outrage and division is critical for developing strategies to mitigate their impact. This session underscored the importance of social dynamics in shaping individual and collective actions, offering a behavioral lens through which to analyze and address the roots of conflict. The implications of social gravity extend to areas such as de-radicalization, the promotion of intergroup dialogue, and the fostering of collective identity around shared aspirations for peace.
Navigating Behavior in Active Conflict Zones
A significant portion of the event was dedicated to understanding and addressing human behavior during active conflicts. This panel explored the value and methodologies of conducting behavioral research in such volatile environments, examining interventions at the individual, community, and institutional levels. Discussions included individual-level interventions in Syria, research on the propagation of hate speech in online digital communities, and the critical role of behavioral science in constructing enduring democratic institutions.
Mareike Schomerus, Greg Power, Britt Titus, and Helena Puig Larrauri brought diverse perspectives to this complex topic. Their work likely addressed the ethical considerations and practical challenges of research in conflict zones, where data collection can be dangerous and access limited. Understanding individual behaviors during conflict is vital for developing targeted psychological support, effective communication strategies, and mechanisms for de-escalation. At the community level, insights into group dynamics, intergroup relations, and the spread of misinformation are essential for fostering resilience and promoting reconciliation. On an institutional level, behavioral science can inform the design of governance structures, legal frameworks, and security sector reforms that are more responsive to the needs and behaviors of the population. The session’s focus on online hate speech also highlighted the increasing relevance of digital behavior in fueling and perpetuating conflict, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary approaches that bridge technology and social science.
Personal Narratives and Scholarly Reflection on Violence
The event also provided a platform for scholars with direct personal connections to contexts of past and ongoing violence to share their experiences, reflections, and evolving research perspectives. Oksana Myshlovska and Yasemin Gülüm Acar shared their insights, offering a deeply personal and academically rigorous examination of how lived experience informs and shapes scholarly inquiry into violence.
This session was crucial for acknowledging the human dimension of conflict research. Scholars who have experienced violence firsthand often bring a unique depth of understanding and a nuanced perspective that can challenge conventional academic approaches. Their reflections likely touched upon the emotional toll of such work, the ethical dilemmas encountered, and the ways in which their personal journeys have influenced their intellectual development and research questions. This human-centered approach is vital for ensuring that peacebuilding efforts are not only scientifically sound but also deeply empathetic and responsive to the lived realities of those affected by conflict. The inclusion of these personal narratives adds a layer of authenticity and urgency to the scientific discourse, reminding participants of the profound human stakes involved in the pursuit of peace.
The Potential of Behavioral Science in War Prevention
A forward-looking panel explored the ambitious question: "Could Behavioral Science Prevent a War?" This session brought together researchers, practitioners, and technologists to discuss the discovery, funding, and scaling of behavioral solutions for war prevention. The discussion focused on identifying novel approaches, securing financial support, and leveraging technology to reduce the costs and increase the efficacy of interventions related to targeting, forecasting, and large-scale implementation.
Salma Mousa, Dave Levin, Catherine Thompson, and Josh Martin likely discussed the innovative ways behavioral science can be applied to preempt conflict. This could involve understanding the psychological drivers of aggression and intergroup hostility, designing early warning systems that detect escalating tensions, or developing communication strategies that promote de-escalation and dialogue. The role of technology in this context is significant, enabling the analysis of vast datasets, the development of sophisticated simulation models, and the efficient delivery of interventions to large populations. The panel’s focus on the interplay between discovery, funding, and technological advancement highlights the practical challenges and opportunities in translating behavioral science insights into effective war prevention strategies. This session represented a critical examination of the field’s potential to move from reactive conflict management to proactive peacebuilding on a global scale.
Rethinking Peace Funding in a Changing Landscape
The financial underpinnings of peacebuilding were addressed in a session on "Innovations in Peace Funding." The discussion highlighted a critical juncture for peace funding, marked by substantial reductions in bilateral donor investments in peace and foreign aid. Simultaneously, emerging capital pools are prioritizing interventions with clear, quantifiable outcomes, creating a tension with the often less easily measured, long-term impacts of peacebuilding initiatives. The panel explored how to advocate for peace investment in this evolving funding landscape, examining innovative models and strategies to bridge traditional funders, new capital sources, and practitioners.
Håvard Mokleiv Nygård, Leslie Wingender, Zezhen Wu, and Nessa Kenny likely debated new approaches to funding peace. This could include developing more robust metrics for measuring the impact of peace interventions, exploring blended finance models that combine public and private capital, or advocating for philanthropic foundations to dedicate greater resources to peacebuilding. The session underscored the need for creative financial solutions and persuasive arguments to ensure that peace remains a priority in global development agendas, even when its impact is challenging to quantify in short-term economic terms. The conversation aimed to foster a more sustainable and adaptable funding ecosystem for peace initiatives, recognizing that effective peacebuilding requires long-term, consistent financial support.
Confronting Uncomfortable Realities
Concluding the substantive discussions, James Robinson offered a personal reflection on the "hard truths" he has encountered throughout his career. His insights provided a valuable retrospective, examining lessons learned, shifts in perspective, and future directions. This session served as a powerful reminder that the pursuit of peace is a continuous learning process, often involving confronting difficult realities and adapting strategies based on evolving understanding and experience.
Robinson’s reflections likely touched upon the complexities of political economy, institutional design, and the persistent challenges of inequality and exclusion in fueling conflict. His candid assessment of his own intellectual journey and the evolution of his thinking offered a model for critical self-reflection within the field. Such introspective moments are crucial for ensuring that the field of peace science remains dynamic, adaptable, and grounded in a realistic understanding of the obstacles to achieving lasting peace.
A Path Forward
The Neuropaz 2026 event, as articulated by its organizers, Andrés Casas and Evan Nesterak, concluded with a call for continued engagement and collaboration. The recordings, along with curated further reading and resources from each speaker, are intended to serve as a valuable repository for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the intricate relationship between behavioral science and peace. The event’s success lies not only in the candid discussions it fostered but also in its commitment to providing tangible resources for ongoing learning and action. By confronting the "hard truths" and exploring innovative "paths forward," Neuropaz 2026 has demonstrably advanced the critical dialogue on how behavioral science can contribute to a more peaceful world. The comprehensive sharing of these discussions and resources signifies a commitment to democratizing knowledge and empowering a wider community of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to engage with these vital issues.