Abstract
This study focuses on the cultural aspects of peacemaking from the point of view of conflict resolution practitioners. Through interviews with peacemakers, we will explore lessons learned and challenges they encounter in various cultural contexts. Special emphasis is placed on the role of women and its cultural implications in peacemaking processes. The key findings suggest that the openness to interactive learning is a must in peacemaking processes as well as learning from both failures and successes in ever evolving and complex conflict situations. Women should be fully integrated in the peace processes and play roles that are not just those defined by their gender. This article contributes to the body of knowledge that aims to integrate cultural nuances into the practice of mediation so that conflicts can be addressed more constructively.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The author conducted interviews with the following peacemaking practitioners: Dr. Andrea Bartoli, Dr. Susan Allen Nan, Dr. Miriam Anderson and Dr. Joyce Neu.
Dr. Andrea Bartoli is an international conflict resolution expert who has served in key academic and diplomatic positions for more than two decades, has been selected as the new dean of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University, starting July 1, 2013. Prior to his appointment, Bartoli served as dean of George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR).
Dr. Susan Allen Nan is a scholar-practitioner of conflict resolution and Associate Professor at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR). She has engaged long-term in conflict resolution in the Caucasus, as well as contributing to a variety of conflict resolution initiatives in Eastern Europe, Eurasia, the Caribbean, South America, and Africa.
Dr. Joyce Neu has been a part of the Mediation Support Unit at the official Track 1 level, but she has worked much more at the Track 2, unofficial level, as an NGO/academic person. She held posts such as chief mediator, unofficial advisor, consultant and advisor. Dr. Neu has been involved in peace processes in Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Comoros, Central African Republic, Mali and Congo.
Dr. Miriam Anderson is an assistant professor of political science at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Her research encompasses peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction. She completed her dissertation on women’s mobilization in contemporary peace processes at the University of Cambridge in 2010. Dr. Anderson worked as a human rights officer for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Croatia from 1999 to 2002. She has also monitored elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia and has volunteered with NGOs in Nicaragua and El Salvador.
- 2.
- 3.
LeBaron, Michelle. “Culture and Conflict.” Online Article. Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Information Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted: July 2003 http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/culture-conflict.
- 4.
See Interview with Fikile Bam who was on Robben Island with Mandela for ten years: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/mandela/prison/bam.html.
- 5.
Interview with Andrea Bartoli (01/12/2014).
- 6.
Interview with Andrea Bartoli (01/12/2014).
- 7.
- 8.
Interview with Susan Allen Nan (12/5/2013).
- 9.
- 10.
See more on Arusha Peace Agreement at: http://unterm.un.org/dgaacs/unterm.nsf/8fa942046ff7601c85256983007ca4d8/d1e795e76bc4480c85256b0b0064661f?OpenDocument.
- 11.
Interview with Miriam Anderson (12/1/2013).
- 12.
Interview with Joyce Neu (12/15/2013).
- 13.
Interview with Miriam Anderson (12/1/2013).
- 14.
Interview with Susan Allen Nan (12/5/2013).
References
Augsberger, David W. (1992). Conflict mediation across cultures: Pathways and patters. Louisville: John Knox Press.
Boutros-Ghali, B. (1992). An agenda for peace: Preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-keeping: Report of the secretary-general pursuant to the statement adopted by the summit meeting of the security council on 31 January 1992. New York: United Nations.
Coleman, P. T., & Ferguson, R. (2014). Making conflict work: Harnessing the power of disagreement. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Colletta, N. (2012). Mediating ceasefires and cessation of hostilities agreements in the framework of peace processes. In A. Bartoli, S. A. Nan, & Z. Mampilly (Eds.), Peacemaking: From practice to theory (pp. 135–147). New York: Praeger Publishers.
Collier, P. (2008). The bottom billion: Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Diamond, L., & McDonald, J. (1996). Multi-track diplomacy: A systems approach to peace. London: Kumarian Press.
Glazier, J. A. (2003). Developing cultural fluency: Arab and Jewish students engaging in one another’s company. Harvard Educational Review, 73(2), 141–163. http://her.hepg.org/index/TR2H742325553M76.pdf
Mack, A. (2007). Global political violence: Explaining the post-cold war decline. In Coping with crisis working paper series. New York: International Peace Academy.
Mitchell, C. R. (2002). What does conflict transformation actually transform? Peace and Conflict Studies, 9(1), 1–24. http://shss.nova.edu/pcs/journalsPDF/V9N1.pdf
Monk, G., & Winslade, J. (2008). Practicing narrative mediation: Loosening the Grip of Conflict. Jossey-Bass.
Nan, S. A., Mampilly, Z. C., & Bartoli, A. (Eds.). (2011). Peacemaking: From practice to theory. Westport, Conn.: Praeger.
Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., & McDanie, E. R. (2009). Communication between cultures. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Scott, J. C. (1999). Developing cultural fluency: The goal of international business communication instruction in the 21st century. Journal of Education for Business, 74(3), 140–43. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08832329909601676
The Charter of the United Nations. Accessed online 29 October 2011. http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/chapter1.shtml
The Community of Sant’Egidio website. Accessed online on 2 November 2011. http://www.santegidio.org/archivio/pace/mozamb_19900710_EN.htm; http://www.gppac.net/documents/pbp/11/6_egidio.htm
The Joint Communiqué accessed online on 2 November 2011 on the United States Institute of Peace’ Digital Collection of Peace Agreements webpage. http://www.usip.org/files/file/resources/collections/peace_agreements/mozambique_07101990.pdf
University of Uppsala’s Peace Agreements Dataset. Accessed online 19 October 2011. http://www.pcr.uu.se/publications/UCDP_pub/UCDP%20Peace%20Agreement%20Dataset.xs
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Manojlovic, B. (2016). Culture and Peacemaking. In: Wildman, J., Griffith, R., Armon, B. (eds) Critical Issues in Cross Cultural Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42166-7_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42166-7_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42164-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42166-7
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)