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

Ripeness
In Theory:
	William Zartman who coined the term "ripeness," describes what he means.
	William Zartman gives examples of situations that were "ripe" for intervention.
	William Steubner suggests that even after has a conflict has become ripe for negotations, it may be difficult to "sell" to conflict profiteers.
	Roy Lewicki considers whether facilitators should pursue resolution when the situation is not "ripe."
	Richard Rubenstein talks about the role of external actors in helping parties to get out of a hurting stalemate.
	Jannie Botes explains that journalists frequently escalate conflicts. This can be positive or negative, depending on the situation.
In Practice:
	Mediator Frank Blechman often gets called in when conflicts are "grid-locked."
	Carolyn Stephenson explains how the "carrot" of EU membership helped push Greeks and Cypriots into negotiations on Cyprus.
	Andrea Bartoli talks about "ripeness" in relationship to the resolution of the civil war in Mozambique.
	Elise Boulding on getting in the disputants' frame of mind.
	Leo Cardenas explains how strong emotions are important to get people interested in working on a problem.
	Nancy Ferrell explains how empathy is necessary for successful relationships and successful mediation.
	Nancy Ferrell explain why it is so important that each side sees the legitimacy, at least, of the others' interests.

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

I plan to stand by nonviolence, because I have found it to be a philosophy of life that regulates not only my dealings in the struggle for racial justice, but also my dealings with people, and with my own self. -- Martin Luther King Jr.

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

OECD Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC)

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

Albert Schweitzer
Founder of Republique de Gabon, and 1952 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