peace st 1a03 (2010/11) lecture 11: conflict transformation

8/7/2019 PEACE ST 1A03 (2010/11) Lecture 11: Conflict Transformation

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Lecture 11Monday March 21 2011

PEACE ST 1A03: Introduction to Peace StudiesDr Colin Salter, Centre for Peace Studies, McMaster University

Conflict Transformationprocesses for social change

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The United States fired 110 [Tomahawk] missiles[March 19], which adds up to a cost of around $81million. That's twice the size of the annual budget ofUSIP, which the House of Representatives wants to de-fund, and is about 33 times the amount of moneyNational Public Radio receives in grants each year fromthe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which theHouse of Representatives also wants to de-fund in the

name of austerity measures.Abu Muqawama (2001)

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Outline

conflict as positive

complex, not complicated

sustained and respectful dialogue

means and ends

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In a conflict there is, somewhere, a contradiction. Andin contradiction there is, somewhere, dynamism.

Johan Galtung (1996)

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A generic, comprehensive term referring to actions and

processes which seek to alter the variouscharacteristics and manifestations of conflict byaddressing the root causes of a particular conflict overthe long term.

Conflict Transformation

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It aims to transform negative destructive conflict into

positive constructive conflict and deals with structural,behavioural and attitudinal aspects of conflict. The termrefers to both the process and the completion of theprocess.


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As such, it incorporates the activities of processes such

as Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution and goesfarther than Conflict Settlement or ConflictManagement.


Berghof-Handbook for Conflict Transformation (2004)

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Conflict transformation is... a process of engaging with

and transforming the relationships, interests, discoursesand, if necessary, the very constitution of society thatsupports the continuation of violent conflict.

Hugh Miall (2004)

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...a positive approach to conflict (give the conflict a

positive emphasis, see it as an opportunity to meet anopponent, as an opportunity to transform society andas an opportunity to transform the self).

Thomas Weber (2001)

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...conflicts most often occur when basic human needs,such as the need for physical security and well-being;

communal or cultural recognition, participation, andcontrol; and distributive justice are repeatedly denied,threatened or frustrated, especially over long periods oftime.

Connie Peck (1998)

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Aims and approaches

Brings parties together

Transform relationships Seeks positive outcomes

Conflict transformation is Peacebuilding

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Encounter Point

Ronit Avni and Julia Bacha(2006)

For 2 years, the Just Visioncrew followed the stories ofordinary people who feeldriven to work for an end to

bloodshed and occupation infavor of peace

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Instead of channeling it into revenge, the people in ourgroup have chosen another direction for their pain. The

pain breaks down barriers very quickly betweenPalestinians and Israelis in the group. There's a sense oftrust. It's not hummus and hugsit's much deeper thanthat...

Robi Damelin

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CT is not about

management

resolution identifying win-win outcomes

imposing solutions

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...there is a great deal more to analysing conflicts thanidentifying the key components: the parties and theirpositions, relationships and so on.

Fisher et al(2000)

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Few of us recognise our own prejudices, and normallywe deny them, giving them what we deem valid reasonsfor our feelings and behaviour.

Fisher et al(2000)

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[in a room in a large midwestern university] There were two pictures onthe wall. One was a University baseball team from many years ago22

white men wearing their team uniforms. The other a picture was of a

science lab class14 students, 13 white men and 1 white women

In total I had 35 white men and 1 white women on the walls of my room.

This clearly tells me whos in charge at this university, I said to myself,

and it would probably send a message to many people of color and

white women who stayed in that room that they could expect to be

excluded from the culture of power in this institution.Paul Kivel (2002)

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...a positive approach to conflict (give the conflict a

positive emphasis, see it as an opportunity to meet anopponent, as an opportunity to transform society andas an opportunity to transform the self).

Thomas Weber (2001)

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How might we reconceptualize our conflict so that weview ourselves as in it together and therefore gettingout of it together?

Jay Rothman (1996)

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The antagonist should be separated from theantagonisms.

Thomas Weber (2001)

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BabaKiueria

Don Featherstone (1986)

Satirical 30 minute film

1987 United Nations

Media Peace Prize

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Summary

Conflict as positive

Complex notcomplicated

Dialogue as key

Transforming

relationships Mutual openness

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Exam

7pm Friday, April 15

Buildings T28 & T29

Multiple choice, short, and longer answer questions

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Citations & further reading

Abu Muqawama (2011) Fun Fact of the Day: Your Tax Dollars At Work, Centre for aNew American Security, March 20.http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawama/2011/03/fun-fact-day-your-tax-dollars-work.html

Simon Fisher, Dekha Ibrahim Abdi, Jawed Ludin, Richard Smith, Steve Williams andSue Williams (2000) Working With Conflict: Skills and Strategies for Action, New York:Zed Books.

Paul Kivel (2002) Uprooting Racismhow white people can work for racial justice, NewSociety Publishers.

Hugh Miall (2004) Conflict Transformation: a multi-dimensional task, Berghoff ResearchCentre for Constructive Conflict Management. PDF available online at http://www.berghof-handbook.net/uploads/download/miall_handbook.pdf

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Citations & further reading

Connie Peck (1998) Sustainable Peace: The Role of the UN and Regional Organizations inPreventing Conflict, New York: Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflicts.

Jay Rothman (1996) Reflexive Dialogue as Transformation, Mediation Quarterly, Vo13, No 4: 345-352.

Various (2004) Berghof-Handbook for Conflict Transformation, Berghof ConflictResearch, available online at http://www.berghof-handbook.net/ Various (2004)Berghof-Handbook for Conflict Transformation, Berghof Conflict Research, availableonline at http://www.berghof-handbook.net/

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Image sources

Peace flag, original source unknown.

Marc Riboud. Jan Rose Kasmir, protest against the Vietnam War outside the Pentagon, Arlington County,Virginia, Saturday, 21 October, 1967 http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Rose_Kasmir

Elisa Iannacone. As leaders of the G20 nations gathered in Toronto, Canada, protesters took to the streets[caption]. G20 summit protests in Toronto : Your pictures, BBC News, 27 June 2010 http:// www.bbc.co.uk/news/10427404

The U.S. vs. John Lennon reproduced from Jrgen Fauths Muckworld http://jurgenfauth.com/2007/02/14/the-us-vs-john-lennon/

Emblem of the United Nations http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Emblem_of_the_United_Nations.svg

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Video sources

Teresa MacInnes (2003) Teaching Peace in a Time of War[trailer], National Film board ofCanada. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfiIT3QwJt4

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peace st 1a03 (2010/11) lecture 11: conflict transformation

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