Summary of
Analytic Reflections from Conflict Zones: A Cautionary Tale for A Polarizing America and World
by James R. Adams
Summary written by James R. Adams, reprinted by permission from his publisher, Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Citation: James R. Adams. Analytic Reflections from Conflict Zones: A Cautionary Tale for A Polarizing America World Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. 2021.
| Editor's Note: All of our previous book summaries were written by graduate students. This one was written by the author himself, and was first published on the publisher's website. Both he and they were eager for us to share this on BI, and we happily agreed, as we no longer have graduate student help writing book summaries, and even if we did, getting an explanation from the author himself about what the book is about -- and why -- is very helpful. |
Why this book? Why now? I attempted to efficiently answer these questions in my preface to the book. I imagine that my efforts then, as in the book concept development stage, were confounded by the same human complexities and complications that have harassed humanity, and, I suppose, first time authors like myself ever since scribes first attempted to wrestle vague notions of human affairs onto papyrus.
That is to say, I recognized that the challenge of the book was to convey, in a coherent fashion, both the conceptual work of the book and the on-the-ground stories of life in conflict zones (conveyed on a human level), which, given the times, I consider useful information for most everyone. And so the effort to combine several broad points of communication into one book.
The book contains a memoir (of sorts) and experienced-based observations from conflict zones, a conflict analysis and peacebuilding concepts/frameworks section, and a running commentary on current conflict patterns that I see in the USA now that remind me of similar patterns that I have seen in conflict zones elsewhere. Hence, the cautionary tale.
I personalized the book to appeal to a wide general readership. I understand that this is not normal practice, but these are not normal times. Internet connected societies are subject to ever greater misinformation and disinformation influences that drive much of the political and societal fragmentation and extremism dynamics today (leadership included).
Therefore, I have shaped the book’s content to also entice general readership with poignant human-interests’ and human-condition stories. Essentially, I am trying to make better understanding conflict and peacebuilding more accessible through personal human-level expression.
Also, a common orientation (common language) is needed for better mutual understanding of conflict and peacebuilding dynamics between leadership, professionals, and citizens. I think that such a book, combined with public awareness raising efforts at a wide cross-section of speaking venues, can contribute to changing the hostile tone of conflicted national discourse for the better. It can reach and inform audiences otherwise not exposed to informed conflict, peacebuilding, and human condition explanations.
Partly, my motivation for writing this book goes back to reflection on a moment in time in Kosovo. I was working for the United Nations in Kosovo as a civil-affairs officer assigned to community-level minority issues and protection when a local citizen asked me why I worked in such places, meaning conflict zones. I replied, “It’s a job … and because I don’t want my country to have to need someone like me back home.” Meaning, among other things, that I worked
to address problems overseas so that they would remain overseas; so that my country would not need someone specializing in post-conflict reconstruction and civil-society building back home in the USA.
I have seen the consequences of caustic discourse, political polarization, deep societal division, and the dehumanization of others that, when taken to their logical extreme, slice through families, societies, and nations, leaving destruction and decades of tragedy. Bosnia and Kosovo come to mind. Rwanda and Somalia come to mind.
What I see happening now in America is the early-stage genesis of such a history in the making, if we continue on this course of increasing intolerance, violence, broken discourse, and polarization. The implications for the US – and the rest of the world – are profound. The United States, despite its historic place of democratic moral leadership and innovation, cannot claim exception to this destructive dynamic.
I have seen the destructive consequences suffered by conflict-torn societies that have taken this path before, on which ideological, nationalistic, and ethnic-racial passions are stirred to hatred and violence, and identities and circumstances are weaponized for political ends.
Such a path, if taken unrestrained, leads down the avenging-angel road to its logical extremes – civil strife, civil war, hundreds of thousands killed and maimed, and millions made internally displaced or refugees, plus the inevitable perpetuation of cycles of violence. Rule by mob is not a circumstance you want to find yourself in.
I caution about the consequences of extremism and fascism. I bring a broader perspective on humanity’s constant flow of adjusting populations and viewpoints. Promoting civil and informed national discourse is a particular aim.
Analytic Reflections from Conflict Zones links the consequences of political polarization, extremism, and trends towards fascism with similar patterns that I have witnessed in conflict and post-conflict zones. Utilizing my human realism lens, I provide cautions and a running commentary on current and historical events with connections to the broader human condition.
I provide new tools for better understanding and improving on our conflicted circumstances and broken national discourse with my illustrated structural and relationship elements assessment scale, operationalized negative and positive peace parameters, and War to Sustainable Positive Peace Continuum framework.
Primary market audiences include university peace and conflict studies academics and students, and peace and stabilization operations, peacebuilding, reconstruction and development, foreign policy, and social change professionals in governmental and non-governmental organizations (military and civilian). And, crucially, citizens -- for whom perception is reality, as it is for most of us.
Also, I have written this book to get my observations, concepts, frameworks, analytic tools, and cautions back to the field (the USA now included) since I have successfully aged beyond that of interest to employers in my usual trade as a peace and stabilization civil affairs/field officer.
It’s been a journey. I hope that my sharing a little about mine, and what I have learned from others in academia, who have been thinking about these things, and the brave souls in conflict zones who kindly shared their thoughts with me, will be helpful to others, now and into the future. Perhaps, humanity will benefit. Perhaps in the way that the most important bits of enlightenment sometimes find their way to minds and hearts – by one individual at a time.
