Characteristics of Intractable Conflicts: Additional Resources

These references supplement the Knowledge Base Essay, Characteristics of Intractable Conflicts.

Examples Illustrating this Topic:

Online (Web) Sources

Posthumus, Bram. "Chad: Can the Cycle of War be Broken?." , 2000
Available at: Primary Link [Backup Link]

This is an article about war in Chad that discusses the never-ending cycle that may one day be broken. It was originally published in the book Searching for Peace in Africa edited by Monique Mekenkamp, Paul van Tongren and Hans van de Veen and published by the European Platform for Conflict Prevention and Transformation.

Offline (Print) Sources

Crocker, Chester A., Fen Osler Hampson and Pamela Aall, eds. Grasping the Nettle: Analyzing Cases of Intractable Conflict. Washington, DC: USIP Press.
The first part of this eye-opening volume identifies and analyzes the defining characteristics and underlying dynamics of intractable conflicts. The second part turns the spotlight on no fewer than eight current cases, in each instance chronicling the conflict's evolution, evaluating the internal and external factors that have conspired to prevent a settlement, and assessing whether past peacemaking initiatives have in fact only aggravated the conflict. The conclusion makes the point that even intractable conflicts eventually end and highlights the strategic approaches and tactical steps that have yielded success in the past for mediators and conflict managers from governments, international organizations, and NGOs. - USIP

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