His areas of specialization include peace and conflict resolution, Islam and Middle Eastern politics and culture. He has authored or co-authored writings on conflict resolution, dialogue, the contemporary Middle East, Islam and United States foreign policy. Christopher Mitchell holds the Drucie French Cumbie Chair of Conflict Resolution and International Relations at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, Virginia. He is the author of The Structure of International Conflict (1981), Peacemaking and the Consultant's Role (1981), A Handbook of Conflict Resolution (with Michael Banks, 1996) and most recently Gestures of Conciliation (2000). He was one of the original members of John Burton's Centre for the Analysis of Conflict at University College, London.