Report on Summer Institute

The following was submitted by Nancy Sharpless on her experiences in June 2008.

I attended the course, “Applied Conflict Analysis & Negotiation”, taught by Ron Fisher and Anthony Wanis-St. John, which was offered at the 2008 Peacebuilding & Development Summer Institute at American University in June. It was a great course, as were several of the other courses (such as “Religion in Conflict” taught by Dr. Abu-Nimmer) by all reports. The 2008 Summer Institute hosted peacebuilding and development practitioners, graduate students, international law students and faculty, and policy makers from around the world. The broad range of backgrounds and cultures represented provided an exceptional opportunity to gain insight into many perspectives on conflict and peacebuilding. The course was based on the premise that sustainable peace requires movement from a war system, with its attendant culture of violence, to a peace system, with an attendant culture of peace. To accomplish this, the world’s political and economic spheres, traditionally focused on understanding and manipulating the war system and its culture of violence, also need to understand and employ conflict resolution approaches and methods.

The course provided to the participants a theoretical understanding of: (1) conflict and its escalation, (2) methods of de-escalation through conflict analysis and dialogue, and (3) methods for conflict resolution. Participants then utilized this theoretical understanding in practical applications including role-plays and simulations employing conflict resolution methods such as pre-negotiation dialogue, bilateral and multi-party negotiation, and multi-party mediation. To provide further insight into the practical application of conflict resolution approaches and methods, a panel of accomplished professionals who practice conflict resolution “on the ground” presented and discussed their experiences and accomplishments, as well as the frustrations and limitations they have encountered.

Team case analyses, performed in small groups of 5-6 participants focusing on a particular conflict, provided participants with the opportunity to analyze a conflict and design an appropriate intervention to enhance resolution. The conflicts analyzed were: (1) Afghanistan/Pakistan, (2) Rwanda, (3) Darfur, and (4) Iran/U.S. The participation of 6 Iranians and 6 Americans in this course provided a rare opportunity for dialogue between 3 Iranians and 3 Americans and for them to analyze the Iran/U.S. conflict by breaking it down into relevant components. The results of that dialogue and analysis demonstrated that dialogue and the breaking down of a conflict through analysis can move the focus away from negative, competing, antagonizing, conflict-escalating differences to the real needs of the parties, which may be compatible, allowing for resolution.

I would highly recommend the AU Summer Peacebuilding and Development Institute for any CR students or practitioners, especially for those interested in International CR and peacebuilding and development.