Perspectives in Waging Conflicts Constructively: Cases, Concepts, and Practice

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Perspectives in Waging Conflicts Constructively offers diverse perspectives on how large-scale conflicts can be conducted with more positive benefits, minimizing their destructiveness. Distinguished analysts and practitioners review the core ideas of the innovative constructive conflict approach and examine cases where conflicts have been waged with fewer destructive consequences. An introduction presents key concepts in constructive conflict resolution, and chapters offer cases of these theories in action. Cases feature both global and regional examples ranging from Israel to North Korea. The book also contains recommendations for policy makers, non-governmental organizations, and citizens about how stakeholders at all levels might help avoid destructive patterns that are common in large-scale conflict while working for positive change. Contributors include Patrick G. Coy, Esra Cuhadar, Bruce W. Dayton, Martina Fischer, Galia Golan, Louis Kriesberg, Christopher Mitchell, Robert Murrett, Thania Paffenholz, Lee Smithey, and Steven Zunes.

Reviews

At its heart, this book is about choiceschoices about the outcomes we want from conflicts, and the strategies and tactics we employ to achieve them. The book offers a hopeful message about our ability to wage conflicts more constructively, while not shying away from hard questions about power, coercion, and injustice. One of the book's great strengths is the breadth of issues it addresses, including the recognition, in the conclusion, of the complex relationship between global climate change and conflict. -- Andrea Strimling Yodsampa, CEO, DEPLOY/US
In times of rising tension and fear of violent conflicts, this is a timely set of cases that have been addressed constructively. The cases and their analyses provide solid evidence that the long-term benefits of handling conflicts constructively are far greater than handling conflict through violent modes. The text has an added value for scholars, students, and practitioners who want to counter arguments in favor of greater violence in responding to national, regional, or global conflicts. The book does not shy away from tackling complex cases such as: Israel Palestine, Northern Ireland, Yemen, and Korea. This is exactly the type of research that peace and conflict resolution scholars, students, and practitioners can equip themselves with when debating the security and power politik in classes and policy circles. -- Mohammed Abu-Nimer, School of International Service, American University
This is a valuable book that brings together many of the most innovative and thoughtful writers in the field of constructive conflict analysis. It is a great contribution to an approach to conflict resolution that has never been more necessary. -- Paul Rogers, University of Bradford
An inspiring supplement to their widely used Constructive Conflicts, Dayton and Kriesberg have assembled a superb team of scholars and practitioners to reflect conceptually and through case applications on the key factors that enable or prevent waging conflicts constructively. Anyone interested in non-violence and peace and conflict studies will benefit from the multitude of viewpoints and illustrative examples compiled in this comprehensive and easy to understand state-of-the art compendium. -- Volker Franke, Kennesaw State University

Author Bio

Bruce W. Dayton is associate professor of peacebuilding and conflict transformation and director of the CONTACT Peacebuilding Program at the SIT Graduate Institute, School for International Training. Louis Kriesberg is professor emeritus of sociology and Maxwell Professor Emeritus of Social Conflict Studies at Syracuse University. He is the founding director of the Program on the Analysis and Resolution of Conflicts and past president of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Together, Kriesberg and Dayton are the authors of Constructive Conflicts: From Escalation to Resolution, now in its fifth edition.