Peace and Conflict Resolution: A New Frontier

A new program to hit the GIIP shelves this spring is our Conflict Resolution working group. Fellows and students are looking to address pervasive conflicts around the world by examining methods and technology to increase dialog. Led by new fellow Sami Abdelhalim, the working group is planning a curriculum to teach future GIIP students the skills needed to build peace in local and international communities.

The Conflict Resolution working group was born out of the interest many GIIP students shared in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Rather than working to advocate for either side, GIIP chose to work on building peace. Expanding the project to a range of conflicts around the world, GIIP will be able to train students in mediation and facilitation methods, preparing them for possible future mentorship programs. Technologies such as video conferencing, social networking, and mobile phones mean that the opportunity for dialog between disparate groups is greater than ever. Seeing a face or sharing a conversation can bring an invaluable facet to peace-building, and GIIP plans to capitalize on increasingly accessible communication technology.

This working group has already attracted the attention of GIIP fellows and students, and we are looking forward to the future of our peace building development.