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Dramatizing Political Traditions: The Lesson of the 2010 Midterm ElectionsOne of the challenges for the field of Conflict Analysis and Resolution is to develop its analytic tools and practical techniques to deal with the problems of political conflict in general and domestic political conflict in the United States in particular. There is little doubt that the heart of the field is devoted to bloody conflicts between ethnic rivals in the far-flung places that we have all come to know with a striking intimacy, but it is impossible to ignore the problems in ICAR’s backyard that carry hints of intractability. The tumultuous transition from the 2008 presidential election to the midterm elections of 2010 demonstrates how symbolic forces in the United States can lead to perplexing outcomes worthy of sustained attention from... |
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New ICAR Website Launched: A Web of Knowledge for a Community of PracticeOn October 23 2010, ICAR launched its new website, a knowledge management system (KMS) that showcases the activities of ICAR and highlights the contributions to the field made by our expanding community of scholars and practitioners. On the new site, visitors can quickly get up to date on ICAR’s latest publications, media appearances, and upcoming events. Each member of our community will be invited to participate in this new online home for ICAR by creating a profile and sharing information about their background, professional careers, and accomplishments. An important strength of the KMS is in our profile pages that highlight publications, projects, media appearances, courses taught, and presentations given. Profiles... |
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CRDC Celebrates Ambassador McDonald: ICAR Advisory Board Member Honoured by People to People InternationalOn November 16 2010, People to People International (PTPI) held an event with ICAR on campus titled “From Revenge to Reconciliation: A presentation on the Israeli/Palestinian peace movement.” People to People International was founded in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower and is currently run by Mary Eisenhower, his granddaughter. The evening included the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Ambassador John McDonald, who championed disabled persons rights in the United Nations. Ambassador McDonald has been a friend and vital part of PTPI’s work with the disabled for the past thirty years and is a member of the ICAR Advisory Board. The speakers for the event were the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and... |
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ICAR Open House: Facilitating Community Growth and EvolutionOn november 11 2010, ICAR held its annual Open House, a tradition that helps our community stay connected and share our current endeavors. This year’s Open House focused specifically on recent practical work and research from our ICAR faculty, alumni, and affiliates. Even within a community as small as ICAR’s, it is far too easy to become absorbed in our personal projects without stopping to take a breath and considering the vast number of accomplishments our Institute has achieved as a whole.
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Book Review – Peacebuilding: Preventing Violent Conflict in a Complex WorldProfessor Dennis J.D. Sandole’s latest book, "Peacebuilding: Preventing Violent Conflict in a Complex World" brings into sharp focus the challenges to building a sustainable peace in the modern world. Highlighting the evolving nature of the international security architecture in the post 9/11 landscape, Sandole reflects on various forms and manifestations of global conflict including terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, genocide, state failure, climate change, ecological degradation, poverty, and forced migration. In making a case for preventive mechanisms in response to these threats, he explores a range of multi-lateral peacebuilding processes underpinning the zeitgist for global governance. The discussion comes alive with a broad spectrum of case studies including the Turkish-Armenian conflict, Israel-Palestine, India-Pakistan, the Balkans,... |
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Jacquie Antonson, ICAR M.S. Student and Events CoordinatorObservant readers of the newsletter may have noticed recurrent contributions by ICAR’s new Events Coordinator, and M.S. student, Jacquie Antonson. As Events Coordinator, her job is challenging and requires a great investment of personal energy. However, Jacquie sees this as a blessing because it allows her to keep her finger on the pulse of ICAR, making connections throughout its community on a daily basis.
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Ibrahim Sharqieh, ICAR Ph.D. AlumnusICAR graduate Ibrahim Sharqieh has been named a Fellow and Deputy Director of the Brookings Institution’s Doha Center. Born and raised in the West Bank, Sharqieh received his undergraduate and Masters degrees from Birzeit University and a one-year diploma in comparative politics from the University of Amsterdam. Sharqieh received his Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from ICAR in 2006. His dissertation was entitled “Ripe for Violence: Public Perception as an Early Warning Indicate” and was based on primary field research in Kosovo and Palestine. The dissertation sheds light on key questions of the timing of conflict and how subjective public perceptions may complement conflict early warning systems. Terrence Lyons chaired... |