Conflict Intervention Research Articles

Book Review: International Relations: Foreign Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts

Book Review: International Relations: Foreign Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts

The Function of Diplomatic Missions in Times of Armed Conflict or Foreign Armed Intervention

This article examines Raoul Wallenberg’s work as a diplomat in Budapest between June 1944 and January 1945. It suggests that Wallenberg’s legacy was initially very limited as a result of the state-centric approach to the codification of diplomatic law in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. Nevertheless, it is argued that the emergence of the so-called “new” diplomacy, coupled with the developing notion of “responsibility to protect” in the face of gross violations of human rights, such as those faced by Wallenberg, have opened up the possibility for diplomats to engage in the process of protecting civilian populations in times of internal strife

Transitioning Mental Health & Psychosocial Support: From Short-Term Emergency to Sustainable Post-Disaster Development. Humanitarian Action Summit 2011

The Working Group (WG) on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support participated in its second Humanitarian Action Summit in 2011. This year, the WG chose to focus on a new goal: reviewing practice related to transitioning mental health and psychosocial support programs from the emergency phase to long-term development. The Working Group's findings draw on a review of relevant literature as well as case examples. The objective of the Working Group was to identify factors that promote or hinder the long term sustainability of emergency mental health and psychosocial interventions in crisis and conflict, and to provide recommendations for transitioning such programs from relief to development. The Working Group (WG) conducted a review of relevant literature and collected case examples based on experiences and observations of working group members in implementing mental and psychosocial programming in the field. The WG focused on reviewing literature on mental health and psychosocial programs and interventions that were established in conflict, disaster, protracted crisis settings, or transition from acute phase to development phase. The WG utilized case examples from programs in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Sierra Leone, Aceh (Indonesia), Sri Lanka, and New Orleans (United States). The WG identified five key thematic areas that should be addressed in order to successfully transition lasting and effective mental health and psychosocial programs from emergency settings to the development phase. The five areas identified were as follows: Government and Policy, Human Resources and Training, Programming and Services, Research and Monitoring, and Finance. The group identified several recommendations for each thematic area, which were generated from key lessons learned by working group members through implementing mental health and psychosocial support programs in a variety of settings, some successfully sustained and some that were not.

A Comment on the Independence of Southern Sudan from Main Sudan: The Sudanese Conflict and United Nations Intervention

The Independence of Southern Sudan from the main Sudan has sparked off conflict as per the territorial jurisdiction of both states. The justifiability of the UN Intervention in this conflict has been a source of recurring controversy. This essay briefly x-rays the Sudanese conflict and the extent to which the UN intervention in the conflict justified.

The Immuno-Dynamics of Conflict Intervention in Social Systems

We present statistical evidence and dynamical models for the management of conflict and a division of labor (task specialization) in a primate society. Two broad intervention strategy classes are observed– a dyadic strategy – pacifying interventions, and a triadic strategy –policing interventions. These strategies, their respective degrees of specialization, and their consequences for conflict dynamics can be captured through empirically-grounded mathematical models inspired by immuno-dynamics. The spread of aggression, analogous to the proliferation of pathogens, is an epidemiological problem. We show analytically and computationally that policing is an efficient strategy as it requires only a small proportion of a population to police to reduce conflict contagion. Policing, but not pacifying, is capable of effectively eliminating conflict. These results suggest that despite implementation differences there might be universal features of conflict management mechanisms for reducing contagion-like dynamics that apply across biological and social levels. Our analyses further suggest that it can be profitable to conceive of conflict management strategies at the behavioral level as mechanisms of social immunity.

Network stability is a balancing act of personality, power, and conflict dynamics in rhesus macaque societies.

Stability in biological systems requires evolved mechanisms that promote robustness. Cohesive primate social groups represent one example of a stable biological system, which persist in spite of frequent conflict. Multiple sources of stability likely exist for any biological system and such robustness, or lack thereof, should be reflected and thus detectable in the group's network structure, and likely at multiple levels. Here we show how network structure and group stability are linked to the fundamental characteristics of the individual agents in groups and to the environmental and social contexts in which these individuals interact. Both internal factors (e.g., personality, sex) and external factors (e.g., rank dynamics, sex ratio) were considered from the level of the individual to that of the group to examine the effects of network structure on group stability in a nonhuman primate species. The results yielded three main findings. First, successful third-party intervention behavior is a mechanism of group stability in rhesus macaques in that successful interventions resulted in less wounding in social groups. Second, personality is the primary factor that determines which individuals perform the role of key intervener, via its effect on social power and dominance discrepancy. Finally, individuals with high social power are not only key interveners but also key players in grooming networks and receive reconciliations from a higher diversity of individuals. The results from this study provide sound evidence that individual and group characteristics such as personality and sex ratio influence network structures such as patterns of reconciliation, grooming and conflict intervention that are indicators of network robustness and consequent health and well-being in rhesus macaque societies. Utilizing this network approach has provided greater insight into how behavioral and social processes influence social stability in nonhuman primate groups.

Reinvigorating the Interactive Problem-Solving Approach to Protracted Social Conflicts

Protracted social conflicts (PSCs) are “hostile interactions which extend over long periods of time with sporadic outbreaks of open warfare fluctuating in frequency and intensity” (Azar, Jureidini, & McLaurin, 1978). According to Azar and colleagues, protracted social conflicts (PSCs) are a mixture of socioethnic and interstate elements that defy traditional settlement methods, and generate escalating perceptions and behaviors. Because crises are managed to restore the status quo and keep conflict at only a moderate intensity, the conflicts take on an inertial or even ‘frozen’ quality, lacking any resolution despite repeated attempts at settlement. PSCs also involve deep-seated religious, racial and ethnic animosities that set these conflicts apart from those not involving group identities and the rights asserted and sought through these (Azar and Farah, 1981).However, ethnicity is not the sole causative factor in these conflicts. Azar and Farah (1981) highlight the role played by structural inequalities and political power differences, particularly when these in turn result in differential distribution of rewards among groups in the society. These differentials typically are reinforced through unequal international connections, meaning that uneven and unequal development benefits will actually further exacerbate differences. One group dominates over others, thereby linking discrimination and victimization to group identity. Group identity and hatred frames all interactions and attributions, and passes from one generation to the next through socialization.Models of conflict give us frameworks for thinking about what needs to change in order to move out of the worst sorts of conflict. Most frame intractable conflict not only as a clash of interests, but also as a dysfunctional relationship (Saunders), etc.. In order to change dysfunctional relationships, changes are needed in attitudes and interaction patterns, but also in inequities in participants’ abilities to address their needs. A more thorough and nuanced understanding of how different interventions aim to change different contributing factors can help us shape realistic and appropriate expectations, and corresponding assessment, for exploring and improving the success of various intergroup conflict interventions (d’Estree, 2001). Parties require not only opportunities to learn about one another and form relationships, but also require opportunities to craft realistic political solutions that will address the structural inequities and injustices that are at the root of protracted social conflicts.This paper revisits one classic method for creating both new awareness but also new solutions: interactive problem-solving. This paper briefly reviews the history, development and design of interactive problem-solving, but focuses primarily on recent applications of this approach and the modifications that attempt to expand on strengths and address weaknesses.Finally, a case is made for better documentation of impacts and relative contributions of methods designed to address intergroup conflict. Peacebuilding requires changing both the willingness of conflicting parties to engage with each other, but also requires the ability to find a path forward. While contact and dialogue approaches may be best designed to change attitudes and perceptions and thus change parties’ willingness to engage, integrative negotiation approaches may be best designed to jointly develop solutions to problems and thus identify a path forward. It can be shown that interactive problem- solving approaches as they have been more recently modified not only engage parties in attitude change and in negotiating constructive solutions, but also more explicitly engage parties in the changing of structural inequalities that are key to movement in protracted social conflicts.

Democracy and Security Special Issue: Foreign Intervention in Ethnic and Ethnonational Conflicts

The following introduction reviews the gaps in extant International Relations theory regarding foreign intervention in ethnic and ethnonational conflicts, proposing ways in which Rationalist and Constructivist approaches to International Relations could contribute to our understanding of such phenomena. The introduction then provides an overview of the special issue's five articles, which draw upon evidence from Africa, the Balkans, Northern Ireland, and the Basque Country to highlight the benefits and drawbacks of third-party intervention in ethnic and ethnonational conflicts. In doing so, they highlight many of the most salient issues affecting the practice of intervention and peacebuilding today.

Book Review: Rosemary Durward and Lee Marsden (eds), Religion, Conflict and Military Intervention (Farnham: Ashgate, 2009, 198 pp., £55.00)

Book Review: Rosemary Durward and Lee Marsden (eds), Religion, Conflict and Military Intervention (Farnham: Ashgate, 2009, 198 pp., £55.00)

Effects of parenting style and involvement in sibling conflict on adolescent sibling relationships

This study examined relationships among maternal and paternal parenting styles, patterns of involvement in adolescent sibling conflict, and sibling relationship quality. Students ( N = 272) in grades 9 and 11 from a public high school in a metropolitan area of the Northeastern US completed measures of parenting styles, parental sibling conflict intervention styles, sibling closeness, sibling support, and sibling warmth and conflict. An authoritative parenting style was associated with sibling support and closeness. Cluster analyses identified gender-specific patterns of parental involvement. Participants reporting maternal or paternal coaching involvement style reported greater sibling warmth compared with those who did not report such patterns. The results highlight indirect and direct relationships between parental behavior and sibling relationship quality. In addition, the study identifies the existence of a meaningful typology of parental involvement in sibling conflict.

Successful interventions in internal conflicts: A framework

This article discusses factors contributing to successful third-party interventions in internal conflicts, dominating the ‘post-cold war’ era as the principal sources of current conflicts. It suggests that peacekeeping is a necessary strategy when violence breaks out between the parties, since without reducing physical violence, it is impossible to manage and resolve the conflict. Yet once peacekeeping introduces a cooling-off period, it must be followed by peace building efforts. The four-step peace building efforts discussed in the article involve helping the parties reach an agreement, monitoring the implementation process, institutional and economic reconstruction, and confidence building, in that order. The study concludes that successful interventions should involve a proper combination of both peacekeeping and peace building. Key words: Internal conflicts, peacekeeping, peace building, third-party intervention, conflict resolution.

On Third-Party Intervention in Conflicts: An Economist's View

The paper discusses some important issues in third-party intervention from the viewpoint of an economist. However, given the multi-disciplinary dimension of this topic, it is impossible to undertake such a discussion from a purely economic point of view. Therefore, the paper raises some issues that will be of interests to non-economists. It draws attention to some important research questions.

Special Issue Announcement

This unique special issue illustrates how ethnic issues are important in understanding conflict management. These articles illustrate how it is particularly important to understand the differences in conflict styles and also the means and methods of participation of constituents and third parties in the field of ethnic conflict management. One of the goals of the International Journal of Conflict Management is to encourage research from a wide range of scholars from many different countries (Posthuma, 2005). This special issue achieves this goal by gathering papers from different countries and cultures that deal with managing ethnic conflicts. The five studies in this issue examine various topics, including differences in conflict styles, participation of different constituencies and stakeholders in conflict resolution, and the influence of different forms of communication on conflict intervention preferences. These papers represent a diverse set of countries, ethnic groups, and a wide range of research methods. Countries represented in this special issue include France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel, and the United States, whilst a range of ethnic groups are discussed, including Arabs, Christians, Hindus, Israelis, Muslims, and Palestinians. The research methods include experiments, qualitative interviews, and surveys.

Religion, Conflict and Military Intervention

Religion, Conflict and Military Intervention

Conflict coaching training for nurse managers: a case study of a two-hospital health system

This study evaluated the application of the Comprehensive Conflict Coaching model in a hospital environment. Conflict coaching involves a coach working with a client to improve the client's conflict understanding, interaction strategies and/or interaction skills. The training of nurse managers as conflict coaches is an innovative continuing education programme that partially addresses conflict-related concerns in nursing. Twenty nurse managers trained as conflict coaches and each coached a supervisee. Qualitative data were gathered from nurse managers, supervisees and senior nursing leaders over an 8-month period and organized using standard programme evaluation themes. Benefits included supervisor conflict coaching competency and enhanced conflict communication competency for nurse managers and supervisees facing specific conflict situations. Challenges included the management of programme tensions. Additional benefits and challenges are discussed, along with study limitations. Conflict coaching was a practical and effective means of developing the conflict communication competencies of nurse managers and supervisees. Additional research is needed. Conflict is common in nursing. Conflict coaching is a new conflict communication and supervision intervention that demonstrates initial promise. Conflict coaching seems to work best when supported by a positive conflict culture and integrated with other conflict intervention processes.

Political information and emotions in ethnic conflict interventions

PurposeThis study aims to explore the effects of political information and anger on the public's cognitive processing and foreign policy preferences concerning third‐party interventions in ethnic conflict.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs an experimental design, wherein the authors manipulate policy‐specific information by generatingad hocpolitical information related to ethnic conflict. The statistical methods of analysis are logistic regression and analysis of covariance.FindingsThe results demonstrate that both political information and anger have a significant impact on an individual's cognitive processing and policy preferences regarding ethnic conflict interventions. Specifically, political information increases one's proclivity to choose non‐military policy options, whereas anger instigates support for aggressive policies. Both factors result in faster decision making with lower amounts of information accessed. However, the interaction of political information and anger is not significant. The study also finds that policy‐specific information – rather than general political information – influences the public's policy preferences.Originality/valueThis study confronts and advances the debate over whether political information is significant in influencing the public's foreign policy preferences and, if so, whether such an effect is the product of general or domain‐specific information. It also addresses an under‐studied topic – the emotive repercussions of ethnic conflicts among potential third‐party interveners. In addition, it tackles the argument over whether political information immunizes people against (or sensitizes them to) the effects of anger on their cognitive processing and foreign policy preferences. The study also introduces a novel approach for examining political information through an experimental manipulation of policy‐specific information.

Foreign Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts by Robert Nalbandov

Foreign Interventions in Ethnic Conflicts by Robert Nalbandov

International Conflict and EU's Intervention Policy

International Conflict and EU's Intervention Policy

External Intervention in Ethnic Conflict

Recently, ethnicity has received greater attention from international conflict scholars. This study explores a new aspect of how ethnic composition of states and the power of ethnic kin affect external state interventions in ethnic conflicts. Here it is hypothesized that states with dominant ethnic groups but still-significant ethnic minorities are expected to be more prone to intervention in ethnic conflict than states without one of these two characteristics. A new measure is proposed to capture such variation in ethnic composition more precisely. Looking at large-N panel data, it is found that ethnically fractionalized states with dominant ethnic groups are indeed the most likely to intervene in ethnic conflicts. Additionally, the power of the embattled ethnic kin minority, as determined by its settlement patterns in the host state, also increases the likelihood of intervention. Traditional variables like proximity and capability retain statistical significance. However, ethnic variables have the strongest effects on interventions in ethnic conflict.

Missile Defence Discourses and Practices in Relevant Modalities of 21st-Century Deterrence

In recent considerations of deterrence in strategic studies, there are almost no works that would systematically link deterrence to one of the most important current issue areas of contemporary strategic studies: ballistic missile defence (BMD). In an attempt to address this lacuna, this article considers ways in which missile defence has been — and can be — intertwined with deterrence of the 21st century. The article begins with a historical outline of the relationship between nuclear deterrence and BMD, and continues by comparing and contrasting US political and strategic-planning discourses in how they have addressed the examined relationship. What follows is the recasting of traditional understanding of deterrence as a set of disparate modalities underpinned by different principles and organizing logics. The article will show the role and function of BMD in three relevant modalities of deterrence in the 21st century: first, in a renewed strategic deterrence between the USA and Russia based on an axiomatic logic of MAD; second, in the deterrence of rogue states in reaction to their asymmetric nuclear threats; and, finally, in a reverse deterrence from intervention in regional conflicts. Consequently, the presented outline of the three modalities will be theoretically furthered to allow for conceptualization of possible links to BMD in ways in which practical implications for future research, strategic planning and political action can be seen.