JUPS-271 Introduction to Engaging and Transforming Conflict

Wien, Barbara

This course offers a thorough grounding of Conflict Transformation (CT) as an orientation, approach and framework, and an analysis of its recent developments. In particular, we will focus on the work and philosophies of John Paul Lederach and Johan Galtung (the Transcend Method) and CT's influence by Liberation Theology in Latin America and other US-based religious groups (e.g. Quakers). At the beginning of the semester, students will gain an intimate understanding of the various forms of violence (e.g. structural, cultural, direct) as well as the history, theories and use of nonviolence. Drawing on Lederach's idea that CT is a way of "looking and seeing" social conflict, we will explore the deep culture and meaning (Galtung) of modern conflict examples, chosen by class consensus. What can CT offer to the "signs of the time"—non-traditional forms of conflict, including gendered school violence, terrorism, and environmental crisis bred by globalization? Through CT, we will identify the "personal, structural, relational and cultural changes" (Lederach) that could evolve from and be produced by these conflicts. At the conclusion of the course, students will be acquainted with CT as a distinct theoretical and applied field of nonviolent social action. Intercultural communication skills and dialogue will be modeled by the instructor and practiced by all course participants. Students will be evaluated throughout the semester on their presence and participation, responses to directed reading questions, and final CT analysis project.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

JUPS-271-01 Introduction to Engaging and Transforming Conflict

Manske, Jiva

This course offers a thorough grounding of Conflict Transformation (CT) as a philosophical orientation, practical approach, and theoretical framework and an analysis of its recent developments. We will attempt to “transform” three major aspects of conflict: 1) what we think about conflict; 2) how we think about conflict; and 3) how we engage in conflict. A primary focus for our learning will be the principles of restorative justice as a means for social change. We will focus on the work and philosophies of John Paul Lederach, Johan Galtung, Myles Horton, Paulo Freire, and Kay Pranis and ground ourselves in CT’s foundation of nonviolence and ‘peace by peaceful means’. Drawing on Lederach’s idea of the moral imagination, as well as Freire’s and Horton’s approaches to education for social justice, we will explore the “personal, structural, relational and cultural changes” (Lederach) that could evolve from and be produced by conflict. Further, we will investigate the deep culture and structure (Galtung) of conflicts related to criminal justice systems, as well as alternative approaches to transforming conflict in our communities (Pranis). Throughout the semester, students will be “doing conflict transformation” as a way of “knowing conflict transformation,” and will be invited to take a critical look at how conflict manifests in their own communities. At the conclusion of the course, students will be acquainted with CT as a distinct theoretical and applied field of nonviolent social action. Intercultural communication skills and dialogue will be modeled by the instructors and practiced by all course participants.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:

• 2005-2006 Fall and Spring
• 2006-2007 Fall and Spring
• 2008-2009 Fall and Spring
• 2009-2010 Fall and Spring
• 2010-2011 Fall and Spring
• 2011-2012 Fall and Spring
• 2012-2013 Fall and Spring

More information
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