BeyondIntractability.org   BeyondIntractability.org
Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict
   


Introduction: Pamela Aall, of the U.S. Institute of Peace, observes that even educators in conflict zones seem to have (or at least teach) a very simplistic and biased view of the conflict they are involved in.


This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).

Frames in Conflict Zones
Pamela Aall
Director of the Education Program at the United States Institute of Peace
Interviewed by
Julian Portilla
2003

In fact, it is often true that conflicts are very, very badly taught or they might teach other conflicts in a great way but they teach in a terrible way about their own conflict because they are dealing with probably a lack of information. And they are also dealing with the kinds of prejudices that you know float around in the background in everybody's life.

Q: And when you say terrible understanding of a conflict or good understanding of a conflict the criteria for those are what?

A: Well, you know it is very analytical. I mean I don't think you will ever get away from the fact that you will have a point of view no matter who you are. But to at least understand the parties, who the parties are, to be able to articulate what each of those parties interests and their needs, if you want to be sort of very simplistic about it, you know what is their stand, to understand the role that perhaps the neighbors are playing in this conflict. To be at least able to articulate what the other side wants and needs and resents and you know and plans.

Q: In terms of other than they want to kill us or they want to drive us out to the sea?

A: Or they are bad.

Q: Or they are bad.

A: They are bad! You know, they are wrong, they are bad. So it is that kind of thing. Now, you know, frankly I don't think as I said any of us escape our own environments. We are not saying that you have to be neutral about a conflict, because I think it is very difficult even for third parties who come in to be neutral about a conflict. But at least be able to articulate it in ways, in dispassionate ways that may reflect also some of the other side's thinking.

 
Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being. -- Mahatma Gandhi

Featured Links
Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict
CARE
CARE


Other Resources from
Beyond Intractability
Peace-Building: A Field Guide
Peace-Building: A Field Guide

The authors of this edited volume describe how fieldworkers 'fit' in the overall peacebuilding process and provide details of the most effective practices.

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Dag Hammarskjold
Dag Hammarskjold

Former Secretary General of the United Nations, and 1961 Nobel Peace Laureate

Beyond Intractability Version IV
Copyright © 2003-2007 The Beyond Intractability Project
Beyond Intractability is a Registered Trademark of the University of Colorado
Project Acknowledgements

The Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base Project
Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess, Co-Directors and Editors
c/o Conflict Information Consortium (Formerly Conflict Research Consortium), University of Colorado
Campus Box 580, Boulder, CO 80309
Phone: (303) 492-1635; Fax: (303) 492-2154; Contact
University of Colorado at Boulder