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Welcome to the Web site for the Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (CNCR). The Center is part of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, located at Civic Square, New Brunswick, New Jersey. CNCRÂ is at the forefront of a movement that believes disputes can be settled by constructive negotiation and consensus-building and problem-solving approaches instead of by force or adversarial argument.
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The powerful pull of 'tribe,' and the origins of genocide and crimes against humanity, are carefully drawn by Philippe Sands in his writings as they are seen in his life. Sands, the Saturday Profile in the New York Times, a rare treasure of a man.
Finding His Place, Reluctantly, in the Tribe of Judaism
nytimes.com
For Philippe Sands, the story of the Nuremberg trials and the development of human rights intersects with his family history in painful ways.
Martha Nussbaum applies philosophical ideas to help us cope with, and understand, anger, but, more than this, she provides us with a model of "patient effort against the corrosions of anger:" Nelson Mandela. However much you may think you knew about Mandela, consider the following: Mandela struggled to put aside (justifiable) anger in order to work for a successful nation, a reality he knew could not come to pass if white and black were held "apart by suspicion, resentment, and the desire to make the other side pay for the wrongs they had done." Accordingly, Mandela, while he was in prison, learned Afrikaans; he studied the culture and thinking of the oppressors; he practiced cooperation by forming friendships with his jailers. "Generosity and friendliness were not justified by past deeds; but they were necessary for future progress," he said.
As he taught, he used parables. Nussbaum provides this one: "Imagine that the sun and the wind are contending to see who can get a traveller to take off his blanket. The wind blows hard, aggressively. But the traveller only pulls the blanket tighter around him. Then the sun starts to shine, first gently, and then more intensely. The traveller relaxes his blanket, and eventually he takes it off. So that, Mandela said, is how a leader has to operate: forget about the strike-back mentality, and forge a future of warmth and partnership."
Why Are Americans So Deeply Angry?
theatlantic.com
A philosopher dissects the outrage that has fueled Trump and more in U.S. politics.
Restorative justice is an intriguing variation on the use of mediation in schools, both as a complement and as a substitute for 'traditional discipline' as this fine article in the NY Times Magazine attests. Developing capacity for 'conflict resolution,' empathy and responsibility, and relying not only or largely on students who never got in trouble but those who had their share of suspensions to receive training in restorative justice techniques. In brief, it's not easy to implement or to sustain, not by a long shot but it's very promising, both in the short and long term. As with any approach that produces value, it requires investment.
An Effective but Exhausting Alternative to High-School Suspensions
nytimes.com
When kids get into trouble at school, traditional forms of discipline often lead to more trouble. Is there a more productive way to change behavior?
When is a conflict "ripe" for peace? This is a question that challenges scholars and practitioners and so it's useful to explore cases that seem to suggest relevant pieces to the picture. Potential elements for 'ripeness' may well include: An acceptable third-party to facilitate peace discussions (and what being acceptable requires); confidence-building measures (in order to provide evidence for believing that a peace process can make progress, including taking tentative steps to assure good faith on the part of all parties); an understanding of what groundwork may be necessary to enhance the chances for success of the negotiations (e.g., gatherings of elders/discussion/education); an assessment that the parties are weary of conflict and yearn for stability and dignity and are prepared to share in political life; changes "on the ground" such as withdrawal of foreign forces; heavy losses taking a toll.
From Where Ex-Taliban Minister Sits, Demand Is Growing for Afghan Peace
nytimes.com
Agha Jan Motasim, a back-channel negotiator who works in secret after taking 12 bullets, insists that the Taliban are thinking about talks despite recent advances.
A provocative column in the recent "Foreign Affairs" provides food for thought...presenting the case for a new national security doctrine for the U.S.. The author, Andrew J. Bacevich, Professor Emeritus of History and International Relations at Boston University and "America's War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History," tells us what those who seek change are up against: "Die-hard interventionists will insist that adversaries are likely to misread self-restraint as weakness. Reflexively opposing anything that might jeopardize the Pentagon's spending, beneficiaries of the military-industrial complex will argue for redoubling efforts to achieve permanent military dominance. Leaders of the armed services...will remain preoccupied with protecting their turf and their share of the budget. All will argue that safety lies in doing more and trying harder, leaving intact inclinations that have warped U.S. policy since the end of the Cold War. In all likelihood, however, more of the same will only make matters worse, at considerable cost to Americans and to others."