Conflict Research Consortium

The missions of the Consortium and, more specifically, the Beyond Intractability project reflect the convergence of two long-standing streams of work. The first is an exploitation of the unique abilities of Web-based information systems to speed the flow of conflict-related information among those working in the field and the general public. The second is an investigation of strategies for more constructively addressing intractable conflict problems — those difficult situations which lie at the frontier of the field. While much of this work is also applicable to small-scale, tractable disputes, our primary focus is on large-scale conflicts which divide organizations, communities, societies, and nations. We believe that the enormous complexities and destructiveness associated with these conflicts requires a new approach — one which adapts and applies existing insights to new situations, and involves intermediaries and adversaries at all levels of society. Therefore, a key part of our mission is making basic conflict information available to as many people as possible, helping them become aware that there are options available that are far superior to the continuation of destructive and often violent confrontations.

In the past, the Consortium has been involved in a number of projects which contribute directly to this knowledge base. These include CRInfo, the International Online Training Program on Intractable Conflict, the Environmental Framing Consortium on Intractable Conflict, the Stanford/Hewlett Theory Centers Conference on Intractable Conflict, the Civil Rights Mediation Oral History Project, and the Conflict Research Consortium Intractable Conflict Project.

Staff

Project Directors
The Beyond Intractability project has been co-directed by Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. The Burgesses are also co-directors of the University of Colorado Conflict Research Consortium, which they founded (with others) in 1988. As a team, they have been doing research, writing, and teaching on intractable conflicts for about twenty years, with an emphasis on international, inter-group, value-based, and environmental conflicts. They have also been leaders in the field of Internet dissemination of conflict resolution information, having designed and co-directed CRInfo: The Conflict Resolution Information Source (the predecessor to this project), the Online Training Program on Intractable Conflicts, and the Civil Rights Mediation Oral History Project.

Graduate and Undergraduate Students
Graduate and undergraduate students have helped us develop this knowledge base.

Graduate student assistants have included:

• Jennifer Akin - Computational Linguistics, University of Colorado
• Philip Barker - Political Science, University of Colorado
• Eric Brahm - Political Science, University of Colorado
• Daniel Cer - Computer Science, University of Colorado
• Rob Gardner - Sociology, University of Colorado
• Michelle Maiese - Philosophy, University of Colorado
• Sandra Marker - Sociology, University of Colorado
• Julian Ouellet - Political Science, University of Colorado
• Julian Portilla - Julian has a Master's Degree from the Institute of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University; he has worked as an interviewer and audio producer on this project
• Norman Schultz - Philosophy, University of Colorado
• Michael Shane Smith - Political Science, University of Colorado
• Brad Spangler - Anthropology, University of Colorado
• Michael Torley - Religious Studies, University of Denver

Undergraduate student assistants have included:

• Sabra Anckner - Sociology, University of Colorado
• Karen Forster - Accounting, University of Colorado
• Kristin Hamada - Political Science and Psychology, University of Colorado
• William Herrera - Accounting, University of Colorado
• Stefanie Herrington - Political Science, University of Colorado
• Julie Jarvis - Political Science, University of Colorado
• April Lipinski - Anthropology, University of Colorado
• Cate Malek - Journalism and American Studies, University of Colorado
• Jessica Martel - English, University of Colorado
• Scott Mefferd - Computer Science, University of Colorado
• Ashleigh Mayer - Psychology and Sociology, University of Colorado
• Erin McGovern - Russian Studies, University of Colorado
• Audrey Roberts - Anthropology, University of Colorado
• Audrey Royem - International Affairs, University of Colorado
• Katie Schroeder - Psychology, University of Colorado
• Lucy Selzer - International Affairs, University of Colorado
• Rafael Salomon - Computer Science, University of Colorado
• Courtney Wagner - Accounting, University of Colorado
• Malinda Withers - International Affairs, University of Colorado