The document explores the evolution of contemporary conflict resolution, highlighting its origins in the Cold War era and the subsequent establishment of institutions and practices aimed at addressing both international and domestic conflicts. It discusses the challenges faced during the 1990s, including the rise of internal strife and the inadequacy of traditional methods to address complex, modern conflicts such as those arising from globalization and terrorism. The document emphasizes the importance of adapting conflict resolution strategies to encompass diverse cultural and political contexts, advocating for a comprehensive approach that includes both short-term and long-term solutions.

1. Contemporary
Conflict
Resolution-
An
Introduction
Masters Program
PLC 204
Intercultural
Communications in
International Relations
Ionian University
Greg Kleponis, Ph.D

2. Background
• Began in the 1950's – 1960's
–Cold War
• Value in Studying Conflict as
a General Phenomenon-
similar qualities-Couldwe
apply the same principles to
civil & Intl conflicts
– International Relations
– Domestic Politics
– Industrial Relations
– Families Individuals

3. Development
– Study &
Practice
• North America – Europe
• Established study groups to develop
the ideas
• Had to be accepted by scholars,
diplomats & politicians after initial
push back
• Scholarly journals dedicated to
Conflict Resolution established
• Institutions created that focused on
Intl crises, internal wars, social
conflicts
• Experimented with negotiation &
mediation techniques and
experimental games

4. 1980s
• Increasingly making a difference
in real conflicts
– South Africa – Center for
Intergroup Studies
– Middle East- Negotiators had
participated in various
workshops and were
successful
– Northern Ireland- community
relations initiatives ->Local
Government
– Africa & Southeast Asia- Aid
workers using techniques to
their advantage in local
conflict resolution.

5. 1990's
Power
Paradigm
Shift
• Dissolution of Soviet Union-
end of bi-polar international
conflict model and
International system
• Internal conflicts, ethnic
conflicts, secession & power
struggles became the norm
• Shift from competing centers
of power -Westphalian model
to fragmentation of state
structures, economies and
whole societies.

6. 1990's
• Dissolution of Soviet Union
–closed long period of
single ideological conflict
between superpowers
• Gave way to internal
conflicts, ethnic conflicts, &
power struggles
• Shift from state armies to
mercenaries, underpaid
militias funded by intl' aid
and covert criminal
organizations.

7. Recognition
&
Development
of New
Approaches
to Conflict
Change of Language- OSCE & OAU
Established conflict resolution
mechanisms & conflict prevention
centers -
Shift of aid workers from apolitical
approach toward applying expertise to
conflict resolution
"complex humanitarian emergencies" -
> "complex political emergencies

8. Institutionalizing
Conflict
Resolution &
Management
IMF & World Bank – new
roles
UN Sec Gen-declared conflict
prevention to be central goal
for next new millenium
Statist international
organizationsnow trying to
manage non-statist conflicts

9. Developments
that dimmed
expectations
for Conflict
Intervention in
the 1990's
3
Developments
Difficulties intervening in chaotic war
zones
-Bosnia (1992-5) & Somalia (1992-3)
-Impact of globalization on weak –
vulnerable states
-Provision of cheap weaponry for
'assymetric war'
-Shadow economies making new wars
profitable thus self-perpetuating

10. Second
• Collapse of Israeli-
Palestininan'Oslo' peace
process
– Second Intifada (Uprising) in
September 2000
– This peace agreement was
generally agreed to be the
new standard for conflict
resolution

11. Third
• Shock of Destruction of 911
• Results- Global War on
Terror (GWOT)
– Global jihadist reaction
• Questions about how
conflict resolution methods
could solve 'failed states',
trans-border crime, WMD,
and fanatical ideologues

12. Moving Forward – Intellectual
Challenges
• Realist criticism- politics seen as struggle between
hostile and irreconcilable groups with power and
coercion as ultimate currency and "soft power'
dismissed as useless or dangerous.
– Crushing of Tamil rebels by government forces
in Sri Lanka 1999

13. Marxist Criticism
• Sees liberal attempts at conflict reconciliation
naïve as these conflicts should not be reconciled
• Failes to account for unequal and unjust struggles
• Fails to take into account the global perspective of
the forces of oppression and exploitation
• Both postulate the conflict is inevitable

14. Why Conflict Resolution
• More relevant than ever as we witness fixed structures of sovereignty and
governance breakdown.
– Population growth
– Structural change in world economy
– Migration to cities
– Environmental degradation
– Rapid social change

15. The
Argument
for Conflict
Resolution
War zones- building peace
constituencies and understanding
across divided communities –
humanitarian engagement
Integral part of the work of
development
Social justice and social transformation
aims to engage problems which
terrorism, mercenaries and child
soldiers are symptoms

16. Future for
CR
Not just a 'Western Thing' - find ways
to enrich Western & Non-Western
traditions through encounter
We have learned that short-term
'denial' strategies (such as military)
will fail unless they are accompanies
by middle-term persuasion strategies,
long-term prevention strategies and
international coordination &
legitimation strategies

17. Conflict
• Economic differentiation
• Social change
• Cultural formation
• Political organization& difference
Confict- Universal Human Condition
• Formationof conflict parties
• Incompatablegoals
All inherently conflictual

18. Terminology
• pursuit of incompatible goals by different
groups. Military- political-peaceful or use
of force
Conflict
• Narrow category –conflict where parties
on both sides resort to force. Continuum
of violence
Armed conflict
• Similar to armed conflict but includes also
one-sided violence genocides, LOAC
violations – ICC
Violent Conflict
• Prevailing pattern of political and violent
armed conflicts
Contemporary Conflict

19. Terminology
• Reaching of an agreement between parties to settle
a political or armed conflict- not final...
Conflict settlement
• Peackeeping and war limittion –geographical
constraint, mitigation or alleviation of intensity
Conflict Containment
• Generic term to cover the gamut of positive conflict
handling- less than settlement & containment
Conflict Management
• More comprehensive- implies that deep seated
sources of conflict are addressed or resolved.
Conflict Resolution
• Deepest Level – Both structural and cultural shifts in
attitudes & behavior that lead to long term postive
peace
Conflict Transformation

20. Common Types of Conflict
Wars. Proxy Wars. Civil Wars.
Armed
Insurgencies.
Genocides. Gang Wars.
Riots.
Terrorist
Attacks

21. Conflict Models- Early Theories
1950's
–
1970's

22. Conflict
Resolution
Multi-level – analysis embrace all levels of
conflict from personal to regional global......
Multi-disciplinary- IR, strategic studies,
sociology, anthropology
Multi-cultural- world-wide & Inter-
connected
Analytical & Normative – understanding
sources-statistics "polymology"
Theoretical & Practical- interplay between

23. Conflict
Resolution
Models
Conflict is a universal
feature of human society
Economic
differentiation
Social change
Cultural
formation
Psychological –
political- all
inherently
conflictual
Parties with
mutually
incompatible
goals
Brief sketch of some best-
known models-based on
human behavior

24. Galtung's
Model
Johan Galtung
(1960's)
3 components in a full conflict
Dynamic process where structure,
attitudes and behaviour are constantly
changing and interacting
Postive Peace
Negative Peace

26. Model Dynamic
• Contradiction
– Incompatibility of goals –actual or perceived
– Mismatch between social structure & social values
• Attitude - "Expressive View"
– Parties perceptions or misconceptions- demeaning stereotypes- fear,
bitterness, hatred
– Emotive (feeling)
– Cognitive (belief)
– Conative (desire, will)
• Behaviour- "Instrumental view"
– Hostility or Conciliation-Cooperation - violent – threats, coercion
violent or destructive attacks

27. Dynamics
Interact
• All 3 components must be present in full conflict
• Structure,attitudesand behaviour all constantly
shifting, changing and influencing one another
– Parties interest clash or relations become
oppressive
– Parties organize aournd structureto pursue
aims
– Develop hostile attitudesor behaviour
– Conflict grows and intensifies
– De-escalation, change of attitudes,
transformationof relationship
– Direct violence vs structural violence (ex.
Dead children)

29. Conflict Escalation & De-escalation
Model

30. Hourglass
Model:
Spectrum
of CR
Rsponses
Combines both models
Hourglass representsthe narrowing of
political space that characterizes
escalation (top) and widening of space of de-
escalation (bottom)
Contingency – nature and phase of conflict
Complimentary- combination of appropriate
responses to maximize chances of success

32. Classic Ideas & Models

33. New
Developments
in CR
More nuanced view of the stages of
conflict and appropriate responses
Broadening scope of 3rd party
intervention- timing and nature of
intervention
Matching resolution strategies with
conflict phases
Identifying levels of conflict from state to
local levels and applying appropriate
resources - techinques

34. Conflict Dynamics & Resolution