Written by a distinguished scholar, this book explores themes of culture, identity, and power as they relate to conceptions of practice in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Among the topics covered are ethnic and identity conflicts; culture, relativism and human rights; post-conflict trauma and reconciliation; and modeling varieties of conflict resolution practice. Context and Pretext in Conflict Resolution is the winner of the 2014 Conflict Research Society Book of the Year Prize.

After years of relative neglect, culture is finally receiving due recognition as a key factor in the evolution and resolution of conflicts. Unfortunately, however, when theorists and practitioners of conflict resolution speak of culture, they often understand and use it in a bewildering and unhelpful variety of ways. With sophistication and lucidity, "Culture and Conflict Resolution" exposes these shortcomings and proposes an alternative conception in which culture is seen as dynamic and derivative of individual experience. The book explores divergent theories of social conflict and differing strategies that shape the conduct of diplomacy, and examines the role that culture has (and has not) played in conflict resolution. The author is as forceful in critiquing those who would dismiss or diminish culture s relevance as he is trenchant in advocating conflict resolution approaches that make the most productive use of a coherent concept of culture. In a lively style, Avruch challenges both scholars and practitioners not only to develop a clearer understanding of what culture is, but also to take that understanding and incorporate it into more effective conflict resolution processes."

Believing not only that conflict is inevitable in human life but that it is essential and can be quite constructive, Augsburger proposes a shift to an "international" approach in resolving conflict. Augsburger focuses on interpersonal and group conflicts and provides a comparison of conflict patterns within and among various cultures.

This edited volume presents research and policy insights into the theory and practice of dispute systems reform in diverse jurisdictions. It highlights how important extra-judicial mechanisms are for resolving cross-border disputes, as evidenced both by the breadth of scholarship dedicated to the issue and the proliferation of parties resorting to non-litigious dispute resolution mechanisms in recent years. Drawing on selected case studies, the book examines the impact of comparative research and policy analysis in advancing reform of dispute resolution institutions at both the regional and global levels. It explores the challenges and opportunities of understanding and assessing developments in systems of dispute resolution in diverse social and political contexts through comparative research. With a growing number of disputes which have come to involve cross-border issues, anyone interested in transnational and comparative dispute resolution will find this book a useful reference.

“Undoubtedly the most comprehensive analysis of the role of culture and emergent practices in capacity building currently at hand. d’Estrée and Parsons have produced a commendable amalgamation and scrutiny of local, cultural, and Indigenous mediation practices in a number of contexts that empower local people while interacting and integrating with Western mediation models in a blend of hybridity. The book is beautifully structured and will attract a wide readership including graduate and undergraduate students.” —Sean Byrne, Director, Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace & Justice, and Professor, Peace & Conflict Studies, University of Manitoba, Canada “Since late 1990s conflict resolution field has recognized the need to integrate culture in its processes. This book goes beyond such theoretical recognition and provides empirical evidence and solid concrete cases on how local actors from a wide range of cultural contexts integrated their cultural analysis and tools in their own sustainable conflict resolution processes. It also offers an effective set of guidelines and lessons learned for policy makers and peacebuilding practitioners on the need to deepen their reliance on local cultural practices of peace.” —Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Professor of International Peace and Conflict Resolution, School of International Service, American University, and Founder and Director of the Salam: Peacebuilding and Justice Institute in Washington, DC, USA “The evolving identities of communities impacted by deep historical divisions and population migration, in the context of life threatening resource shortages, present opportunities and challenges for conflict transformation professionals at every level. d'Estrée and Parsons respond to this challenge with a remarkable collection of stories from around the world that amplify the innovation in the field while capturing its history and complexity. It serves as the bridge between mediation and peacebuilding that is so necessary today.” —Prabha Sankaranarayan, CEO, Mediators Beyond Borders International “In this excellent book, Tamra Pearson d’Estrée and Ruth Parsons (and their impressive collection of case study authors) have analysed four generations of conflict resolution/transformation theory and practice. They highlight the diverse ways in which the burgeoning field of conflict resolution theorists and practitioners mirrored the ascendance and now decline of the neo-liberal western project. First and second generation efforts were based on notions of possessive individualism, rational choice theory and a general acceptance of the status quo. Culture was ignored or eliminated as were deeper questions of political and social inequality. But more importantly, there was an unwillingness to consider the power and the wisdom that resided in locality. Third and fourth generation conflict transformers, on the other hand, have engaged these deeper questions and focused more attention on emancipatory creative partnerships, social and economic justice, co-learning and hybridised models flowing from external engagement with local wisdom. This is a book that needs to be read by anyone interested in the transformative power of conflict resolution and long term social and political change.” —Kevin P Clements, Professor, Chair and Foundation Director, The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand While waves of scholarship have focused either on the value of presumed universal models or of traditional practices of conflict resolution, curiously missing has been the recognition and analysis of the actual intermingling and interacting of western and local cultural practices that have produced new and emergent practices in our global community. In this compilation of case studies, the authors describe partnerships forged between local practice expertise and bearers of “western/institutional” models to build innovative approaches to mediation and conflict resolution. Including stories of these experiences and the resulting hybrid models that emerged, the book explores central questions of cultural variation and integration, such as the perception of purpose and function of resolution processes, attitudes toward conflict, arenas and timeframes, third party roles, barriers to process use, as well as how to remain true to culture and context. It also examines partnership dynamics and lessons learned for modern cross-cultural collaboration.

The Values, World Society and Modelling Yearbook 2014 analyses contemporary world events, drawing on foundational ideas in various academic disciplines. The year 2014 was the centenary of the start of the First World War and the seventieth anniversary of the Normandy landings in the Second World War. The year saw violent conflict in Ukraine and the rise of the Islamic State in parts of Syria and Iraq. A referendum was held in Scotland to decide whether to stay in the UK. Centrist parties lost ground in the European Parliament elections and a general election was held in India, the biggest ever election in the world. Thomas Piketty sparked debate with his analysis of growing inequality in capitalist economies. Politicians in the UK talked about ‘British values’ and debated ‘is Britain Christian?’ The British Museum lent one of the Elgin Marbles to the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and Putin made overtures to China. In California, Elliot Rodger went on the rampage, killing six people. Malala Yousafzay won the Nobel Peace Prize, Maryam Mirzakhani won the Fields Medal and Judit Polgar retired from international chess. Germany won the World Cup in Brazil. Echoes of the Big Bang confirmed the theory of how the universe began. The 2014 Yearbook discusses these events alongside a variety of other specific events and general issues. In addition, this book includes the speech given by Kevin Avruch when he was joint recipient of the Conflict Research Society Book of the Year Prize 2014 for his book Context and Pretext in Conflict Resolution.