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

Creating Safe Spaces for Communication
	Indira Kajosevic talks about RACOON's work with trauma victims from the Balkans.
	Laura Chasin talks about how fostering an environment conducive to constructive conversation is central to the healing process.
	S.Y. Bowland discusses how third party cultural competency is essential to creating a safe space for mediation.
	Robert Stains talks about creating safe spaces for dialogue.
	Because it is often threatening for people to change their narratives, Sarah Cobb recommends working with parties separately before holding group sessions. continues to show her wonderful work here.
	Louise Diamond talks about creating safe spaces for communication.
	Maire Dugan talks about how dialogue practitioners can create a space that's safe enough for participants to develop new insights.
	Susan Dearborn talks about creating a safe space for mediation.
	Susan Dearborn of the Pacific Family Mediation Institute, says it is extremely important for parties to trust the intervenor and feel comfortable with the mediation process. One technique she uses to put parties at ease is to explain why she is asking certain questions. Another is to ask their permission to pursue certain topics.
	Nancy Ferrell says one job of a facilitator is to model good process so the clients eventually can handle things themselves.
	Bob Hughes describes how he insisted that everyone be heard out, even if it was painful or upsetting to the other side.
	Wallace Warfield describes how he used to create safe situations in which all sides could effectively communicate with each other--often for the first time.

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

The first principle of non-violent action is that of non-cooperation with everything humiliating. -- Cesar Chavez

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

Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation
"An inter-university consortium committed to improving the theory and practice of negotiation and dispute resolution." (Quote from Website)

Other Resources from
Beyond Intractability

The Darfur Region of the Sudan
Why doesn't the world stop the violence? What makes the Sudan such an intractable conflict?

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Philip J. Noel-Baker
Anti-war activist, instrumental figure in the formation of the League of Nations and the United Nations, and 1959 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