Conversations in Conflict Studies

Louis Kriesberg and Bruce W. Dayton discussed their history and projects on conflicts. These long time experts and co-authors of “Constructive Conflicts: From Emergence to Transformation” shared their experiences in working with many issues including conflict resolution, security issues and peace studies.

This presentation explores how contemporary youth mobilize for change outside of traditional NGOs and what the implications of these new mobilizing structures are for theory, policy, and practice. Long hailed as part and parcel of a vibrant civil society and well positioned to promote social justice, economic development, and democracy, NGOs have more recently been accused of being at best co-opted by, and at worst willing pawns of, international donors and national governing regimes.

Broadly speaking, Matthew’s research program focuses on the relationship between environmental crimes and harms and social inequalities, particularly how America’s lead poisoning epidemic caused by dilapidated housing in segregated neighborhoods impacts the well-being of families and contributes to the school-to-prison pipeline.

Anya Stanger began her research on some of America's most committed nonviolent activists here in Central New York. In this talk, she discusses the strategy of prison witnesses (going to jail for 6 months or more as a result of nonviolent resistance) as a window into understanding not just contemporary nonviolent action, but also how such action is shaped by identity.

Since becoming the University Ombuds over three years ago, Neal has been saying “Conflict is not a sign of failure. Conflict is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the people you work with.” The Spiral of Personal Conflict acknowledges an individual process of managing conflict that has been influenced directly by observations in his work as well as psychology, media, Eastern and Indigenous theories and concepts.