Pursuing a Practice of Peacebuilding A Conversation With ICAR Alumna, Cynthia Irmer

With the school year quickly coming to a close, an atmosphere of uncertainty is pervasive as another cohort prepares to graduate. Reflecting on the experiences and knowledge gained, how does one negotiate these in such a way as to confidently move forward into what can sometimes seem an ambiguous future? Where do I go? What do I do? What CAN I do? Fortunately, ICAR has an extensive network of successful alumni such as Cynthia Irmer to turn to for practical advice on such matters.

After years of practicing law, Cynthia Irmer returned to school to get her Ph.D. at ICAR. In her own words, “ICAR changed my life, it gave me words to express thoughts, and permission to creatively question the unthinkable.” As a result of her education at ICAR, Dr. Irmer was able to pursue her passion for exploring non-abusive ways to better the human condition, and consider the simple notion that not all conflict is negative. With such tools in hand, she was equipped to utilize and implement a diverse range of conflict analysis and resolution principles in her position with the State Department's newly created Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization.

Serving as a Senior Conflict Prevention Officer, Dr. Irmer uses an elicitive model to frame the government lens through which she analyzes the dynamics of conflict life cycles. Moreover, she has been able to successfully employ certain theoretical models to establish the now government-wide Interagency Conflict Analysis Framework (ICAF), which enables members of seemingly disparate agencies to support one another and work together toward creatively constructing more effective approaches to conflict.

As of April, the ICAF model will have been applied in fourteen different conflict areas in the world, and serves as the only comprehensive conflict prevention program in the U.S. government. Dr. Irmer’s most recent work has been with the Liberia ICAF, whose team is currently on the ground conducting interviews and briefing various Armed Forces Commands. Prior to the team’s deployment, she invited them to ICAR for a planning meeting that brought area experts together for a brainstorming session.

Hoping that this particular ICAF will make a difference in consensus building that other assessment tools could not produce, Irmer says, “it is vital to master the process of articulation.” By that, she means taking the theory produced by academics and transforming it into more accessible language for everyday citizens, “Academics and policy makers are brilliant, but the ordinary people that are being affected are not on that level.” Her prescription for such transformation is to elicit a solution from the people. 

Similarly, Dr. Irmer recommended that ICAR students generate their own solutions while mastering individual processes. “Everyone is an expert in something,” she told me, “you just have to find it, work with it, develop it slowly, build it for yourself, and get your foot it in the door somewhere.” How does one do that? “Be willing to take low pay for a while, volunteer overseas with smaller NGOs, and take advantage of the alumni network for informational interviews.” In other words, be creative and remember that not all conflict, (specifically the struggle to apply what you’ve learned and build opportunities for practice), is bad!