Conflict Transformation Research Articles

Peace Camp

Community Music Therapy (COMT) is a development increasingly referenced and often nebulous in the field of music therapy. Depending on its description in the literature, COMT seems to be situated between an aspiration to stretch beyond boundaries of the ‘consensus model’ and serve atypical populations, and a working practical approach with clear guidelines. Curiosity around this phenomenon inspired an initial inquiry by the author into potential theoretical underpinnings to provide context and definition for its aims, namely critical theory. Through identifying the links between CoMT, critical theory/psychology, and conflict transformation–the approach utilized in modern peacekeeping–the author hoped to inspire more intentional efforts by music therapists working at the convergence of those ideas. This research culminated in the author’s master’s thesis, a critical review and attempted integration of these topics, in 2018. This article aspires to build upon that research by remapping the knowledge gained onto the experiences that catalyzed the inquiry. Through vignettes and commentary, the author uses a reflexive, critical lens to examine his tenure as a music counselor at Seeds of Peace Camp, a conflict transformation camp. By re-examining trial-by-fire moments and their aftermath, the author identifies relevant research in the aforementioned fields that may have enhanced or explained participant responses. This serves to broaden the collective understanding of the overlapping goals and practices of CoMT, critical theory/psychology and conflict transformation.

The fate of sacred places in Nagorny Karabakh as a symbol of unsuccessful conflict transformation

The 2020 war in Nagorny Karabakh brought not merely a shift in the actual borders in the southern Caucasus; it also led to a change in control over several religious buildings or places that had become sacralized as symbols for one or the other side. Using selected examples of sacred places associated with Armenian or Azerbaijani historical memory, this article seeks to cast light on the fate of cultural monuments in war and its aftermath. In connection with the long-lasting conflict, these monuments are forced to undergo a cycle of sacralization, desacralization and reinterpretation of their origins and functions, depending on the approach taken by the winning side. Churches, monasteries and mosques in Nagorny Karabakh thus serve as sad examples of unsuccessful conflict transformation.

Oral Traditions and Folklores as Tools of Political Mobilization and Conflict Transformation among Ethnic Minority Groups in Assam, India’s Northeast

Inter-ethnic violence and counter-violence have been at the center of writings on identity politics among ethnic groups in India’s Northeast. Yet, the existing literature on these aspects in India, especially in the Northeast region, has missed out on a very significant dimension. Very few studies have focused on the use of oral narratives and folklores as important methods that contribute to identity politics and conflict transformation among ethnic groups. Preliminary research suggests that ethnic violence in Northeast India exhibits variations in terms of the patterns of violence and state responses that shape the outcome of the conflicts. Oral narratives are the repositories of cultural reproduction of marginalized communities and serve as important tools that enable these communities to reclaim their identity, social justice and shape their agency. The aim of the paper is, therefore, to examine how and to what extent oral traditions and narratives in the form of folklore help mobilize marginalized ethnic groups in conflict zones in India’s Northeast. The paper uses the case study of the historically marginalized Bodo ethnic group to examine the linkages between folklore, identity construction, mobilization and peace.

Russia's "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine: Divergent Narratives of the Conflict, Conflict Transformation, and Peacebuilding

Russia's "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine: Divergent Narratives of the Conflict, Conflict Transformation, and Peacebuilding

Pertentangan Kelas Sosial dalam Naskah Drama Kapai-Kapai Karya Arifin C. Noer

This study aims to reveal the forms of social class conflict, the factors that cause social class conflict, and the impact of social class conflict in the play Kapai-Kapai by Arifin C. Noer. This type of research is descriptive qualitative research. The main data source in this research is Kapai-Kapai drama script by Arifin C. Noer. The research data collection techniques are; (1) Reading and understanding the play Kapai-Kapai by Arifin C. Noer; (2) Literature review in order to obtain an understanding of the problem to be studied; and (3) Inventory of data related to social class opposition depicted in the play Kapai-Kapai by Arifin C. Noer. The data validation technique used is triangulation technique. The forms of social class opposition from the play Kapai-Kapai by Arifin C. Noer: includes: 15 objective data, 27 subjective data. In addition, there are factors that cause social class conflict in the Kapai-Kapai drama script by Arifin C. Noer, such as: community relations, human needs, negotiation, intercultural misunderstanding, and conflict transformation. The impacts of the social class conflict are: an increased sense of group solidarity, the destruction of group unity, changes in individual personality (4) the destruction of existing values and norms, and the loss of property (material) and people.

Transformation of Task Conflict Into Relational Conflict and Burnout: Enhancing Effect of Leader's Discriminatory Effect.

Organizational conflict was proposed by dividing it into task conflict and relationship conflict. However, conflict is dynamic and therefor, the conflict transformation is recognized as an important topic in organizational conflict. In particular, task conflict can be easily transformed into relationship conflict due to emotional expression and misattribution in the process of conflict. In addition, task conflict can negatively affect employees' attitudes if it is transformed into relationship conflict even though task conflict can function properly. This transformation of conflict can become more active under certain conditions, and leaders play an important role in this transformation because leaders have an important influence on conflict management. Therefore, this study examined the effect of the transition from task conflict to relationship conflict on burnout and the moderating effect of leaders in the relationship between task and relationship conflict. To this end, surveying 721 employees in 15 departments, and multilevel mediation and moderation analysis were performed. As a result of analysis, employees' burnout increased when task conflict transformed into relationship conflict. In addition, greater the LMX differentiation of leader, greater the effect of task conflict on relationship conflict. Finally, theoretical and practical implications were discussed for leadership and conflict management.

Implication of Land use Land Cover Change for Resource Conflicts and the Role of Community Leaders in Conflict Transformation: The Case at the Adjacent Districts of Amhara and Afar (Dewe) National Regional State, Ethiopia

This study aimed at investigating LULC detection and the role of community leader in the conflict transformation among the adjacent Afar and Oromo ethnic groups in Afar and Amhara National Regional States. Supervised classification with maximum likelihood techniques were used for image classification and Multi-stage purposive sampling procedure was used for the selection of both study district and kebeles. Both primary and secondary data were used. The primary data was gathered through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, case studies and personal observations. A total of 12 focus group discussions and 42 key informant interviews were held in six adjacent kebeles of the two districts. The period of 2009 to 2018 bare land is increased by 161.21 km2 where as bushed grass land is decreased by 160.15 km2. This may be resulted from population and livestock pressure on land. The major causes of conflict identified were attached resource competition on farm land, grazing land and theft. Institutions applied in conflict transformation in the study area are mostly by customary institutions with some degree of cooperation with the formal one. The result also shows some challenges attached to the law and local judges’ viz. limited legal permissive stance, urbanization, community trust issue against clan elders in the process of integrating the two law sources. This paper recommends full recognition of the joint roles of Makaabon’s and Aba Gada’s through creating reporting systems of local tribunal activities for the state and capacity building for them by the state and NGOs. In order to legitimize the role of the leader and incorporate customary laws into the formal system, the customary law laws of both ethnic groups should be studied and written further, potential points of adjustment and cooperation must be identified, broader policy and legislative options has to be set, and laws contradict the country’s constitution.

From Partition to Peace? A Retrospective on Religion and Reconciliation in Palestine/Israel

The broad contours of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are ever changing. However, one thing that remains constant is a strong commitment, especially by Israeli policymakers, to the “two-state solution,” which advocates for the partition of the historic land of Palestine into two states, one Israeli and one Palestinian. This essay is a retrospective on the two-state solution and the lessons learned from years of scholarship on religion, reconciliation, and conflict transformation that illustrate the solution’s pitfalls. It begins by analyzing the legacy of the original partition plan and how changes resulting from decades of conflict challenge its viability. It then synthesizes scholarship on religion, reconciliation, and the possibilities of collective identity in Palestine/Israel. The essay then articulates an alternative to partition, the “binational solution,” as a way forward that better aligns with the findings of scholars. A final section concludes by discussing avenues for future research and debate.

The Transformation of Inter-Ethnic Conflicts in Uasin Gishu in the Post-Independence Era, 1963-2020

This study investigates the historical context of inter-ethnic conflicts in Uasin Gishu County during the post-colonial period right from 1963 when Kenya attained her independence. This study argues that European colonial land policy laid the groundwork for inter-ethnic strife. The land became heavily politicized during this period, as political elites strategically used it to mobilize their various ethnic groupings, thus stoking ethnic tensions and occasionally culminating in conflicts. The goal of this study was to examine the evolution of inter-ethnic disputes in Uasin Gishu from independence through 2020. The historical approach was used in the study, which drew on both primary and secondary data sources. Annual reports, reports from appointed commissions, interviews, court judgments, and official government statistics were the key sources of data. Furthermore, secondary sources were used in the study. It was shown that tensions in the post-independence era were created by how land distribution was carried out after independence, as well as the politicization of the issue. The immediate post-colonial government failed to properly transfer land to people and instead, the political class took advantage to incite ethnic tensions. Successive governments also failed to resolve historical land concerns, worsening ethnic tensions and resulting in violent clashes in 1992, 1997, and 2007. These conflicts generated far-reaching consequences, affecting individuals not only politically but also socially and economically; as shown in clashes between Kalenjin, the Kikuyu, Luo, Abaluhya, and Abagusii, particularly in 1992 and 2007/2008. The study concludes that all parties, both public and private, should take a holistic approach to addressing historical causes and preventing future disputes.

ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЕ НАСИЛИЕ НА ГОРОДСКИХ ВЫБОРАХ В ПЕТРОГРАДЕ ВЕСНОЙ –ЛЕТОМ 1917 ГОДА

The aim of the article is to consider the change in the political culture of the revolution and the development of civil conflict through the prism of the manifestation of political violence in the elections to self-government of Petrograd in the spring and summer of 1917. Elections to the district dumas of the capital were organized by the Petrograd City Duma and the Provisional Government. The election campaign began in May 1917, and the elections themselves took place on May 27–29 and June 3–5, 1917. The elections to the district dumas were the first elections in the new Russia, summing up three months of democratic construction that began after the February Revolution. The election campaign for the Petrograd City Duma began in mid-August, and the elections took place on August 20. They marked the end of the municipal election campaigns that took place in Russia in the summer of 1917. As part of the case-study, the article reconstructs the manifestation of political violence against various actors participating in elections, and the impact of these practices on the transformation of civil conflict and the legitimization of political violence. In the elections to the district dumas of Petrograd, political violence became a traditional means of political struggle, legitimizing its use during elections in other cities of Russia. However, no political violence was used in the elections to the Petrograd City Duma. The author concludes that behind the apparent decrease in the level of political violence on the streets of Petrograd on the eve of the “Kornilov case” lies a process of even greater polarization of society and escalation of civil conflict, when one part of the society is noticeably radicalized with the tacit consent of the other, which led to the emergence of new, more tough and legitimate ultimatum forms of communication between various groups of the population and the authorities.

Peace Initiatives in Resource Based Conflicts in Post-Colonial Kenya: A Case of Lower Nyando River Basin of Kisumu County, Kenya

There is growing literature focusing on resource extraction and unbalanced sharing of natural resources in the exploitation community and conflict especially in the developing countries. Whereas a lot of attention has been directed at grievances of conflicting parties in natural resource based conflicts, limited attention is being given to peace initiatives including the role of local peace committees and community led peace building networks. This paper provided an insight on the role of peace initiatives in resource based conflicts in post-colonial Kenya, with particular attention to lower Nyando River Basin of Kisumu County, Kenya. Specific objectives were to determine the magnitude of resource based conflicts among communities in the Lower Nyando River Basin, analyse the role of local peace committees in resource based conflicts among communities in the Lower Nyando River Basin and to establish the contribution of community led peace-building networks in resource based conflicts among communities in the Lower Nyando River Basin, Kenya. Conflict transformation theory which articulates transforming the causes of conflict as the right approach for resolving and curtailing emerging disputes was adopted to guide the study. Mixed method design involving quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis approaches was adopted. Target population comprised of (Ogenya=153; Kakola Ombaka=704; Jimo Middle=131, and West Kabodho=225) who were natural resource reliant in both Nyakach and Nyando Sub-counties with a sample size of 278 respondents obtained based on Gill et al’s Table of Desired Accuracy with Confidence Level of 95%. The study also interviewed 4 elected community leaders from each sub location. Findings showed that the magnitude of resource based conflicts in the area was high (M=3.91; SD=0.08). The study also found that local peace committees were important peacebuilding initiatives (M=4.17; SD=0.23), while peacebuilding networks existing in the study area had contributed in resolving conflicts to a large extent (M=4.01; SD=0.25). It was concluded that unfounded apportioning of the wetland by the feuding communities has made the magnitude of conflict to be high in the study area. The study also concludes that local peacebuilding initiatives have helped in managing resource based conflict in the area due to their acceptability and incessant peace messaging.

“Hope is a Discipline”: Practicing Moral Imagination in Transformative Justice

Rather than “embracing hopelessness,” many marginalized communities understand their practices of political resistance as exercises in hope. One space of contemporary activism where this is evident is in transformative justice movements. Utilizing the idea of moral imagination as articulated in peacebuilding and conflict transformation literature, and the idea of hope as a social practice as articulated by Keri Day, I argue that a close examination of transformative justice organizing reveals hope as a social practice of embodied moral imagination practiced by communities on the margins.

“Street facilitation” as a non-violent conflict transformation technology: a practical strategy

“Street facilitation” as a non-violent conflict transformation technology: a practical strategy

Smart Paradigms of Modern International Mediation

"Over the past few decades, due to increasing interdependence between societies, the speed of information propagation, the diminishing constraints of time and space on communication and the simultaneous involvement of an increment number of actors in the same operating theatre, we have witnessed the globalization of conflict and along with it a remarkable transformation of conflict and how it is fought. There has been a surge of interest in the recent literature on disaggregating war on defining the mechanisms driving non-conventional warfare, and therefore, the aim of this article is to underline the fact that the existing literature on international mediation has placed far too little stress on finding new approaches on managing these new challenges. The international mediation regime did not to match the rhythm and directions of conflict evolutions. Keywords: globalization of conflict, international mediation, smart mediation strategies."

Nonviolent communication (NVC) based mediation: Practice insight

AbstractThis paper focuses on practice insights derived from using nonviolent communication (NVC) as a method of conflict transformation. After describing the main principles and components of NVC, we will present an example from the field: a crisis in the relationships between Arab‐Israeli educators and staff members of a Jewish‐Israeli museum who established a partnership for a special project: to train Arab educators to teach about the Holocaust. We will focus on a conflict that threatened this partnership, and will discuss both the advantages and challenges of NVC as a mediation method.

Is Transitology Relevant for Effective Gender Sensitive Conflict Transformation Practice in Africa?

The continuously evolvement of complex conflicts like terrorism and cyber warfare necessitate the quest for theories that are relevant and applicable across the global geographical divide. This triangulation of theories aids to a better understanding of how past and present human relations, historical dynamics and material conditions intersect to shape conditions for conflict and peace. Few researchers have inquired how the triangulation of old and new theories can enhance an understanding of modern democratic transitions. To address this research gap, I reflect on transitology and feminist epistemology, to explore their relevance, rationality and value addition to the study of conflict transformation in modern Africa. Transitology, one of the oldest theoretical frameworks that enhanced the study of conflict transformation in the West before the end of the Cold War, is majorly criticised as outdated and irrelevant to the study of modern governance and democracy processes (Mohamedou & Sisk, 2017; Saxonberg and Linde, 2016). Likewise feminist epistemology is criticised for narrowly focusing on women and girls’ rights, thus detaching itself from realities of conflict and peace studies (True, 2014; Anderson, 2020). Against this background, I strive to establish the link between transitology - a framework of theories of change towards democracy and feminist epistemology - a framework of theories of change towards inclusive conceptualisations of knowledge, to prove the relevance and rationality of both frameworks, and their capability to catalyse democratic practice towards egalitarian relations and societies. This study contributes to new modalities of knowledge production in the field of women, peace and security. Using secondary data from seventy-five articles, I juxtapose transitology against feminist epistemology, drawing examples from various African countries, to build evidence that demonstrates the relevance of both theoretical frameworks in the study of conflict transformation.

Is Transitology Relevant for Effective Gender Sensitive Conflict Transformation Practice in Africa?

Is Transitology Relevant for Effective Gender Sensitive Conflict Transformation Practice in Africa?

Influence of the Kenya National Policy on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management Framework on the Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees in Mombasa County

Global experience with sustainable peacebuilding has been diverse since the term was formally introduced to the world by the United Nations in 1992. Since then, peacebuilding has been implemented in the absence of a universally accepted approach or clear criteria for success. Multiple actors have conceptualized and implemented peacebuilding to correspond with their contexts and needs. This is true for Kenya and Mombasa County, in particular. Mombasa Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees have been conducting peacebuilding in the County, against the backdrop of old conflict drivers such as poverty and resource-based conflict, and emerging threats to peace such as drug trafficking and youth radicalization. Therefore, the ability of the Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees to foster sustainable peacebuilding in these circumstances needs to be interrogated. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of the policy framework of the formal peacebuilding infrastructure in fostering sustainable peacebuilding. The conceptual framework was based on Galtung’s Theory of Peacebuilding, Galtung’s Theory of Structural Violence, and Lederach’s Conflict Transformation Theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design and applied both convenience and purposive sampling techniques. Data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interviews (KII), and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guides and observation checklists. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used for data analysis. The study findings indicated that Mombasa County Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees are experiencing diminished agency because of a lack of resources to carry out peacebuilding work in the County. Those members of the Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees were not competent to undertake modern-day peacebuilding activities because of inadequate training. Therefore; the study recommends that the idea of peacebuilding through local peacebuilding structures such as Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees be a priority in Kenya’s peacebuilding discourse with some modifications in the formation and functioning of Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees. The Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees should be de-linked from the county security processes and positioned as the “Honest Brokers for Peacebuilding”, whose primary responsibility will be to harness all available resources in their locality to bear on their peacebuilding agenda. The national government should educate the public about peacebuilding and the role that Sub-County Peacebuilding Committees are expected to play in this agenda.

Research on the construction of rural interface style based on aesthetic rules

Abstract The form and overall style of rural settlements are the carrier of the rural regional context and aesthetics. At present, China’s rural areas are facing a disorderly style and urbanisation. This study is based on similarity aesthetic regularity and visual aesthetic regularity; on the one hand, this work researches the method of building interface coordination from the aspects of form, material and colour, and puts forward the interface construction method of strong contrast, medium contrast and weak contrast according to the rural areas. On the other hand, this study analyses people’s perception characteristics of the style from the visual psychological level, explains the skills for the rural interface and sequence arrangement based on the relationship between visual matching and the bottom of the picture and constructs the aesthetic image under the new overall relationship of the place. Finally, this study puts forward a series of strategies for rural style construction, such as symbol concatenation, contrast reconstruction and aesthetic conflict transformation, to constructing a new aesthetic image of place so as to provide ideas and methods for the development of the rural style in the future.

Active looking: images in peace mediation

ABSTRACT In this article, we explore the potential contributions of visual images to international peace mediation. Inspired by the concept of active listening and narrative approaches to mediation, we advance the notion of active looking in peace mediation: a visual-discursive mediation practice that includes images as a mode of expression and contribution to meaning-making processes, capitalising on specific characteristics of images, especially as regards their relationship to verbal language, which we explore in terms of ineffability, approximation, elusiveness, and commonalities. We propose active looking as both an approach to conflict mediation and a mediation skill derived from an understanding of conflict transformation that – instead of aiming at problem-solving based on sameness – appreciates openness, difference, and ambiguity. Ideally, through image-generated evolution, re-complexification, and re-authoring of narratives, the conflict parties, by means of active looking skills embodied in and promoted by the mediator, move closer to a conflict’s transformation.