Overcoming Intractable Conflicts: New Approaches to Constructive Transformations

Despite considerable progress in research and practice in the constructive transformation of intractable conflicts beginning in the 1970s, many terribly destructive conflicts have recently erupted. New circumstances have emerged that have resulted in regressions. The contributions in this book examine many of the new challenges and obstacles to the transformation of intractable conflicts. It also offers an array of new and promising opportunities for constructive transformations. The book brings together analyses of U.S.-based conflicts with those from many regions of the world. International, intra-state, and local conflicts are explored, along with those that have been violent and non-violent. The diversity in disciplines among the authors provides a wide range of theoretical approaches to explaining how a variety of intractable conflicts can be transformed. Case studies of local, national, and transnational conflicts serve to illustrate this new landscape. These analyses are complemented by conceptual discussions relating to new conflict systems, actors, dynamics and strategies. Policy implications of findings are also presented.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Galia Golan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Louis Kriesberg, Syracuse University Chapter 2: Gendered Perspective on Intractable Conflicts and Power Sharing Ayelet Harel-Shalev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Chapter 3: Mapping and Monitoring Global Insecurity and the Global Illicit Economy: The Effects of Intractable Conflicts Margaret Hermann, Syracuse University Chapter 4: Unrecognized States: Theory, Cases, and Policy Implications Kristy Buzard, Syracuse University; Benjamin A.T. Graham, University of Southern California; Ben Horne Chapter 5: Transformation of Armed Conflict: Lessons from the Arab-Israeli Conflict Galia Golan, Hebrew University of Jerusalem Chapter 6: Dynamics Contexts of Conflict: Complicated Actors and Settings in Northern Ireland Ronit Berger, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel Chapter 7: Social Media Use and Fear Levels after the Paris 2015 Attacks: A Comparative Study Bernard Enjolras, Institute for Social Research in Oslo, Norway; Shana Kushner Gadarian, Syracuse University; Kari Steen-Johnsen, Institute for Social Research in Oslo, Norway Chapter 8: The Creation of Space for Conflict Change: Context, Society and Leadership in Northern Ireland during the 1990s Nimrod Rosler, Tel Aviv University Chapter 9: Between Ripeness and Necessity: Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the Tipping Point for External Intervention Timea Spitka, Hebrew University Chapter 10: Global Imbalances, Currency Wars, and U.S. Hegemony Stuart Brown, Syracuse University Chapter 11: Responding to Gun Murders in Syracuse, NY: A Multilevel, Multimodal Interventions Approach Robert Rubinstein, Syracuse University; Sandra D. Lane, Syracuse University; Timothy “Noble” Jennings-Bey, Street Addiction Institute, Inc., Syracuse, NY; Najah Salaam Chapter 12: Intergroup Dialogue, Constructive Conflict and Social Power: Towards Transforming Inequality Diane Swords, Intergroup Dialogue Program, Syracuse University Chapter 13: Transforming Conflicts: Barriers and Overcoming Them Daniel Bar-Tal, Tel Aviv University Chapter 14: Back to the Tribes: Tribes’ Centrality in Iraq’s Inter-community Rapprochement Amatzia Baram, University of Haifa Chapter 15: U.S. and North Korea: A Gordian Conflict Stuart Thorson, Syracuse University; Hyunjin Seo, University of Kansas Chapter 16: Transit Migration, Borders, and Activism: Understanding the Changing Geographies and Temporalities of International Migration Jared Van Ramshorst and Jamie Winders, Syracuse University Chapter 17: Transforming Intractable Conflicts under the Shadow of the Past: The Sunk Cost and Inaction Inertia Effects Lesley Terris, Lauder School of Government, Policy and Diplomacy of the Interdisciplinary Center; Orit E. Tykocinski, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Chapter 18: Velvet Transformation in South Africa: Mandela, De Klerk, or Something Else Mordechai Tamarkin, Tel Aviv University Chapter 19: The Fractal Nature of Intractable Conflict: Implications for Sustainable Transformation Joshua Fisher and Peter T. Coleman, Columbia University Chapter 20: From Peacebuilding to Constructive Conflict Management: Reconsidering Intervention under Conditions of Intractability Bruce W. Dayton, SIT Graduate Institute, School for International Training Conclusion: Looking Forward Catherine Gerard, Syracuse University and Miriam Elman, Syracuse University

About the Author :
Miriam F. Elman is associate professor of political science and the Inaugural Robert D. McClure Professor of Teaching Excellence at the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University where she also serves as a research director at the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC). Elman received her Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University and her B.A. in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is the editor and co-editor of five books, including most recently Democracy and Conflict Resolution: the Dilemmas of Israel’s Peacemaking and Jerusalem: Conflict and Cooperation in a Contested City. In addition to her books, she is also the author and co-author of over 65 journal articles, book chapters and reports on topics related to international and national security, the nexus between religion, politics and conflict resolution, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Elman’s research has been supported by many government agencies and private foundations, including the US Department of Education, Arizona State University’s Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict (CSRC), and Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (BCSIA), where she was an International Security Fellow. Catherine Gerard serves as Director of the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC), Associate Director of Executive Education Programs, and Adjunct Professor of Public Administration at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. In her role as Director of PARCC, she oversees an internationally known center for theory-building and practice in conflict analysis and resolution. Her focus is research, education, and practice of managers and students in the skills of collaborative leadership and change. She is co-editor of Pushing the Boundaries: New Frontiers in Conflict Resolution and Collaboration (2009) and co-author of “The Contribution of Leadership to the Movement from Violence to Incorporation” in the book, Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding (2009). As Associate Director of Executive Education, she oversees the Executive degree programs and develops and instructs executive education programs for domestic and international customers. Galia Golan is Darwin Professor Emerita of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and former chair of the Political Science Department. She was also Chair, Program in Diplomacy and Conflict Studies, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya. She has published 10 books, most recently Israeli Peacemaking Since 1967: Factors for the Breakthroughs and Failures, (Routledge), now co-editing with Gilead Sher a volume Israeli Spoilers in Israeli-Arab Peacemaking. The recipient of the Israel Political Science Association 2007 Award for Lifetime Contribution, the International Studies Association Distinguished Scholar Award in Peace Studies 2016, and the 1995 New Israel Fund Women in Leadership Award, Dr. Golan was a leading scholar on Soviet foreign policy, authoring numerous books and articles on Soviet policy in the Middle East. Louis Kriesberg is Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Maxwell Professor Emeritus of Social Conflict Studies, and founding director of the Program on the Analysis and Resolution of Conflicts (PARC), all at Syracuse University. His most recent books are: the 5th edition of Constructive Conflicts, co-authored with Bruce W. Dayton, published in 2017, Perspectives on Waging Conflicts Constructively: Concepts, Cases and Practice, Co-edited with Bruce Dayton. 2017;. Louis Kriesberg: Pioneer in Peace and Constructive Conflict Resolution Studies. Springer, 2016; Realizing Peace: A Constructive Conflict Approach, published by Oxford University Press, in 2015; and Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding: Moving from Violence to Sustainable Peace (co-ed. with Bruce Dayton, 2009). Among earlier books are: International Conflict Resolution (1992), Timing the De-Escalation of International Conflicts (co-ed., 1991; and Intractable Conflicts and Their Transformation (co-ed., 1989).

Review :
This volume examines the most critical issue facing humanity—our seemingly complete inability to constructively transform the many intractable conflicts that are devastating countries across the globe.Though many argue that climate change is the world's biggest problem, we won't be able to "solve" climate change (or inequality, or immigration, or anything else) unless we transform the conflicts that drive it. By examining new actors, dynamics, strategies, and frameworks, this volume examines the many old and new sources of current difficulties, as well as promising new approaches for overcoming these challenges.