The Intractable Conflict Challenge

Our inability to constructively handle intractable conflict is the most serious, and the most neglected, problem facing humanity. Solving today's tough problems depends upon finding better ways of dealing with these conflicts. More...

Beyond Intractability initiatives, learning materials, and knowledge base support those working on these conflicts at all levels—from the individual to the societal.

Selected Recent BI Posts
Including Hyper-Polarization Posts

Hyper-Polarization Graphic

An Entreaty: An excerpt from The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation by Richard C. Harwood -- The catalyst we need to heal ourselves and our nation must begin in our local communities. Rich Harwood's new civic path starts with turning outward toward one another, figuring out what we can agree on amid our differences, and getting in motion together to take action on what matters in our daily lives.
Colleague, News, and Opinion Links for the Week of June 15, 2025 -- More interesting and important articles to share.
Comments on Our Webinar with Ashok Panikkar on "Whither Peacebuilding" -- Does peacebuilding always work? Are there some instances in which it should not be pursued? The Burgesses and three readers weigh in.

Get the Newsletter
Check Out Our Quick Start Guide

Educators
Consider BI's low-cost Teaching Materials.

Hyper-Polarization Discussion
Follow (and contribute to) an ongoing exploration of ideas for better meeting the tough challenges posed by hyper-polarization and intractable conflict.

Constructive Conflict Initiative
Join us in calling for a dramatic expansion of this work.

Things You Can Do to Help Ideas

Practical things we can all do to limit the destructive conflicts threatening our future.

Conflict Frontiers

A free, open, online seminar exploring new approaches for addressing difficult and intractable conflicts. Major topic areas include:

Scale, Complexity, & Intractability

Massively Parallel Peacebuilding

Authoritarian Populism

Constructive Confrontation

Conflict Fundamentals

An look at to the fundamental building blocks of the peace and conflict field covering both “tractable” and intractable conflict.

Beyond Intractability / CRInfo
Knowledge Base

Home / Browse | Essays | Search | About

BI in Context

Links to thought-provoking articles exploring the larger, societal dimension of intractability.

Colleague Activities

Information about interesting conflict and peacebuilding efforts.

Intractable Conflict Challenge

Beyond Intractability initiatives, learning materials, and knowledge base support those working on these conflicts at all levels—from the individual to the societal.

Intractable Conflict Challenge

Beyond Intractability initiatives, learning materials, and knowledge base support those working on these conflicts at all levels—from the individual to the societal.

Intractable Conflict Challenge

Beyond Intractability initiatives, learning materials, and knowledge base support those working on these conflicts at all levels—from the individual to the societal.

Things You Can Do to Help Ideas

Practical things we can all do to limit the destructive conflicts threatening our future.

Conflict Frontiers Seminar

A free, open, online seminar exploring new approaches for addressing difficult and intractable conflicts. Major topic areas include:

Scale, Complexity, &
Intractability

Massively Parallel
Peacebuilding

Authoritarian
Populism

Constructive
Confrontation

BI in Context

Links to thought-provoking articles exploring the larger, societal dimension of intractability.

The Intractable Conflict Challenge

Beyond Intractability initiatives, learning materials, and knowledge base support those working on these conflicts at all levels—from the individual to the societal.

Beyond Intractability
Hyper-Polarization Blog
Includes BI/CRQ Discussion

Selected Recent Posts

An Entreaty: An excerpt from The New Civic Path: Restoring Our Belief in One Another and Our Nation by Richard C. Harwood -- The catalyst we need to heal ourselves and our nation must begin in our local communities. Rich Harwood's new civic path starts with turning outward toward one another, figuring out what we can agree on amid our differences, and getting in motion together to take action on what matters in our daily lives.
Colleague, News, and Opinion Links for the Week of June 15, 2025 -- More interesting and important articles to share.
Comments on Our Webinar with Ashok Panikkar on "Whither Peacebuilding" -- Does peacebuilding always work? Are there some instances in which it should not be pursued? The Burgesses and three readers weigh in.
Comments on Our Webinar with Ashok Panikkar on "Whither Peacebuilding" -- Our discussion with Ashok about peacebuilding after USAID and USIP generated three very different comments. We share them all and respond here.

Get the Newsletter
Check Out Our Quick Start Guide

Educators
Consider BI's low-cost Teaching Materials.

Hyper-Polarization Discussion
Follow (and contribute to) an ongoing exploration of ideas for better meeting the tough challenges posed by hyper-polarization and intractable conflict.

Constructive Conflict Initiative
Join us in calling for a dramatic expansion of this work.

Things You Can Do to Help Ideas

Practical things we can all do to limit the destructive conflicts threatening our future.

Conflict Frontiers

A free, open, online seminar exploring new approaches for addressing difficult and intractable conflicts. Major topic areas include:

Scale, Complexity, &
Intractability

Massively Parallel
Peacebuilding

Authoritarian
Populism

Constructive
Confrontation

Conflict Fundamentals

An look at to the fundamental building blocks of the peace and conflict field covering both “tractable” and intractable conflict.

Beyond Intractability / CRInfo
Knowledge Base

Home / Browse | Essays | Search | About

BI in Context

Links to thought-provoking articles exploring the larger, societal dimension of intractability.

Colleague Activities

Information about interesting conflict and peacebuilding efforts.

Things You Can Do to Help Ideas

Practical things we can all do to limit the destructive conflicts threatening our future.

Conflict Frontiers Seminar

A free, open, online seminar exploring new approaches for addressing difficult and intractable conflicts. Major topic areas include:

Scale, Complexity, and Intractability

Massively Parallel Peacebuilding

Authoritarian Populism

Constructive Confrontation

News and Opinion

Links to thought-provoking articles exploring the larger, societal context of intractability.

Hyper-Polarization Discussion
Follow (and contribute to) an ongoing exploration of ideas for better meeting the tough challenges posed by hyper-polarization and intractable conflict.

Constructive Conflict Initiative
Join us in calling for a dramatic expansion of this work.

Conflict Fundamentals

An look at to the fundamental building blocks of the peace and conflict field covering both “tractable” and intractable conflict.

Beyond Intractability / CRInfo
Knowledge Base

A much more extensive set of materials including theoretical articles, case studies, book and article summaries, profiles of peacebuilders and more.
Home / Browse | Essays | Search | About

Colleague Activities

Information about interesting conflict and peacebuilding efforts.

Selected Recent BI PostsIncluding Hyper-Polarization Posts

Selected Recent Posts

Recent BI PostsIncluding Hyper-Polarization Posts

Recent BI PostsIncluding Hyper-Polarization Posts

Selected Recent BI Posts
Including Hyper-Polarization Posts

Recent BI Posts
Including Hyper-Polarization Posts

Recent BI Posts
Including Hyper-Polarization Posts