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

Introduction: Olympio Barbanti talks about the shortcomings of using U.S. based conflict resolution models in the developing world. He says the lack of regulatory structure is a severe obstacle to U.S. models of conflict resolution in developing countries. He also believes it necessary to merge conflict resolution theory with other fields of social study (i.e. sociology, anthropology, political science etc.).

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

The Developing World and US Conflict Resolution Models
Olympio Barbanti
Faculty in the Department of International Relations at the Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Interviewed by
Julian Portilla
2003

For example, in developing countries, social theory is very influenced by some kind of Marxist approach, like in Latin America... together with a Marxist approach pose some limitations to the application to the conflict resolution approach to these same countries. People do not believe that conflicts can be resolved or they are not capable of sorting out their differences in a rational or formal way. In fact, they believe that you need to increase conflicts as a way of promoting a change in society.

There is no conflict that cannot be resolved. Violent conflict is created and sustained by human beings, and it can be ended by human beings. -- George Mitchell.

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