Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict
Democracy and Conflict Management
In the U.S.
Democratic processes are, in effect, one form of conflict management, where decisions are made by the electoral, legislative, and judicial processes. Two project participants discuss the importance of these processes, and observe problems that seem to be arising in American democracy.
Laura Chasin suggests that the degeneration of public discourse poses a threat to democracy.
Frank Dukes talks about the importance of public participation in conflict resolution processes.
In Post-Conflict Situations
Issues of democracy and conflict management are quite different in newly-forming democracies, as the following comments illustrate.
Terrence Lyons suggests that in post-conflict settings, there are risks associated both with premature elections and with waiting too long to hold elections.
Ray Shonholtz describes how his organization, Partners for Democratic Change, works to help newly-establishing democracies.
Terrence Lyons talks about the tension between maintaining stability and addressing past injustice in post-conflict reconstruction and democratization processes.
Ozell Sutton discusses the nature of power and authority.
This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).
No matter how big a nation is, it is no stronger that its weakest people, and as long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you might otherwise. -- Marian Anderson
Other Resources from Beyond Intractability Obstacles Become Part of Opportunity Louis Kriesberg offers President Bush constructive advice on how to overcome severe obstacles that are blocking the Israel/Palestine peace process, by transforming them into opportunities that build trust and peace.
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Shirin Ebadi Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003
"for her efforts for democracy and human rights. She has focused especially on the struggle for the rights of women and children."
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
