Maxwell faculty co-edit new book on intractable conflicts

Three Maxwell faculty members, Miriam Elman, Catherine Gerard, and Louis Kriesberg, and their colleague Galia Golan at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have co-edited Overcoming Intractable Conflicts: New Approaches to Constructive Transformations, recently published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Overcoming Intractable Conflicts asks why, despite academic and policy efforts since the 1970s to transform intractable conflicts around the globe, many of these conflicts have recently erupted and progress has frequently reversed. The volume’s interdisciplinary contributors analyze new conditions that make such conflict more difficult to manage and discuss successful approaches for understanding and shifting both inter- and intra-national conflicts from around the world. Its case studies range from the changing geographies of international migration and how increases in national security practices can lead to serious human insecurities to an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of intergroup dialogue for fostering community and solidarity among participants. The book views social conflicts as universal and thus comparable, and its contributors together urge policy and conflict scholars to rethink familiar concepts if they are ever to see success in addressing such seemingly intractable global conflicts.

Miriam Elman is an associate professor of political science who serves as the research director for the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC). Trained in both political science and international relations, Elman is an Israeli studies scholar focusing on national and international security, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and academic freedom and free speech. 

Catherine Gerard is director of PARCC, associate director of Executive Education programs, and adjunct professor of public administration and international affairs. Her research focuses on collaborative leadership and conflict transformation. 

Louis Kriesberg, professor emeritus of sociology and Maxwell Professor Emeritus of Social Conflict Studies, is a scholar of social conflicts, peace studies, and conflict resolution. He was formerly president of the Society for the Study of Social Problems and continues to regularly consult and provide trainings concerning conflict resolutions, security issues, and peace studies. He was the founding director of PARCC.

You can read more about their edited volume at Rowan & Littlefield’s website.

01/15/20