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CONFLICT RESOLUTION:Creative response, Appropriate assertiveness

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International Relations-PSC 201
VU
LESS0N 41
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
What is the importance of Conflict Resolution in IR?
International conflict resolution is an interdisciplinary field of study that allows students and practitioners to
examine and formulate effective approaches to deadly conflict.
Conflict Resolution is linked to development, human rights, security policy and social psychology. Conflict
resolution requires understanding of root causes, conflict dynamics, and seizing opportunities for conflict
transformation.
Issues concerning modern conflicts
Modern conflicts often involve intrastate rather than the more traditional interstate struggles, presenting
new challenges to policymakers and peacemakers alike. The intended result of conflict resolution is a
reduction of despair, an enrichment of alternatives, and the empowerment of all dimensions conducive to
fair, sustainable, lasting and satisfactory agreements.
Some basic steps for resolving conflicts
1. The win/win approach
Identify attitude shifts to respect all parties' needs
2. Creative response
Transform problems into creative opportunities
3. Empathy
Develop communication tools to build rapport. Use listening to clarify understanding
4. Appropriate assertiveness
Apply strategies to attack the problem not the person
5. Co-operative power
Eliminate "power over" to build "power with" others
6. Managing emotions
Express fear, anger, hurt and frustration wisely to effect change
7. Willingness to Resolve
Name personal issues that cloud the picture
8. Mapping the conflict
Define the issues needed to chart common needs and concerns.
9. Development of options
Design creative solutions together
10. Introduction to negotiation
Plan and apply effective strategies to reach agreement
11. Introduction to mediation
Help conflicting parties to move towards solutions
12. Broadening perspectives
Evaluate the problem in its broader context
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International Relations-PSC 201
VU
Relevant Vocabulary
Dimensions ­ various angles or factors
Empowerment ­ a process leading to increased ability
Conducive ­ something which proves to promote, support or encourage
Transformation - change
Dynamics ­ factors behind a phenomenon
Resolution ­ to resolve or solve a problem
Practitioners ­ those involved in the practice of
Intrastate ­ within a state
Suggested Readings
Students are advised to read the following chapters to develop a better understanding of the various
principals highlighted in this hand-out:
Chapter 17 in `"A Study of International Relations" by Dr. Sultan Khan
Internet Resources
In addition to reading from the textbook, please visit the following web-pages for this lecture, which
provide useful and interesting information:
Gateway on International Conflict Resolution
www.colorado.edu/conflict/
Table of Contents:
  1. WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WHAT IS ITS RELEVANCE?
  2. APPROACHES TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THEORIES IN IR
  3. APPROACHES TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:Traditional Approach
  4. THE NATION-STATE SYSTEM:Further Evolution of Nation-State
  5. THE NATION STATE SYSTEM: BASIC FEATURES OF A NATION-STATE
  6. NATIONAL INTEREST:Criteria for Defining National Interest
  7. NATIONAL INTEREST:Variations in National Interest, Relevant Vocabulary
  8. BALANCE OF POWER (BOP):BoP from a historical perspective
  9. BALANCE OF POWER (CONTINUED):Degree of Polarization, Functions of BoP
  10. DIPLOMACY:How Diplomacy Functions, Traditional Versus Modern Diplomacy
  11. DIPLOMACY (CONTINUED):Diplomatic Procedures & Practices, Functions of Diplomacy
  12. COLONIALISM, NEO-COLONIALISM & IMPERIALISM:Judging Colonization
  13. COLONIALISM, NEO-COLONIALISM & IMPERIALISM:Types of Neo-Colonialism
  14. COLONIALISM, NEO-COLONIALISM & IMPERIALISM:Objectives of Imperialism
  15. NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER:Criticism of IEO, NIEO Activities
  16. NEW INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER:Prerequisites for the NIEO
  17. NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT:Origin of NAM, NAM’s Institutional Structure
  18. NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT (CONTINUED):Cairo Summit, Egypt - 1964
  19. NON-ALIGNMENT MOVEMENT:Criticism of NAM, NAM and Pakistan
  20. THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS - INTRODUCING THE COLD WAR PHENOMENON
  21. THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS (CONTINUED):Truman Doctrine, Marshal Plan
  22. THE COLD WAR AND ITS IMPACTS (CONTINUED):End of the Cold War
  23. DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL:History of Disarmament
  24. DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL (CONTINUED):Other Disarmament Efforts
  25. THE RELEVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
  26. THE RELEVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (CONTINUED)
  27. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:Need for IGOs, Categorizing IGOs
  28. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (CONTINUED):United Nations, Criticism of the UN
  29. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (CONTINUED):European Union, World Bank
  30. THE ROLE OF DECISION MAKING IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
  31. DECISION MAKING (CONTINUED):Rational Actor Model, Group Politics Model
  32. SYSTEMS APPROACH TO IR:Underlying Assumptions, Elements of the System
  33. SYSTEMS BASED APPROACH (CONTINUED) – DISTINCT SYSTEMS IN IR
  34. LIBERALISM AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY:Neoliberalism
  35. LIBERALISM AND SOCIAL DEMOCRACY (CONTINUED):Liberalism vs. Social Democracy
  36. INTEGRATION IN IR:Preconditions for Integration, Assessing Integration
  37. GLOBALIZATION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS:Advocates of Globalization
  38. THE GLOBAL DIVIDE:World Social Forum, Can the Global Divide Be Bridged?
  39. FOCUS ON FOREIGN INVESTMENTS:Pro-poor Foreign Investments
  40. CONFLICT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION:Components of a Conflict
  41. CONFLICT RESOLUTION:Creative response, Appropriate assertiveness
  42. THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT:Global Concern for the Environment
  43. THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT:Environmental Concerns and IR, Some Other Issues
  44. HOW IR DIFFER FROM DOMESTIC POLITICS?:Strategies for altering state behavior
  45. CHANGE AND IR:Continuity in IR, Causality and counterfactuals, IR in a nutshell