Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict
Introduction:
The decision of who to invite or allow at the negotiating table is important in determing the success of any agreement that is reached. Peter Coleman of Columbia University explains that options and benefits and problems of each.
This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).
Who Should be at the Table?
Peter Coleman
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Director of the International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia
One example is degree of inclusivity of the parties. Some people that work in
these areas believe that you've got to get as many of the stakeholders and the
members of their groups to the table, engaging together as possible. Others say,
it's not possible, it's not feasible, you need to work with key influencers,
three influential is what Herb Kelman calls them, that level of people under
First Track, who have influence in the communities, who you can transform and
can become agents for a change. That decision about being exclusive or inclusive
with a group is a huge decision and it has impact on the system.
Because some would say, working with a exclusive group creates **spoilers,
creates people who are excluded with the process and therefore become bent on
sabotaging it.
War is, at first, the hope that one will be better off; next, the expectation that the other fellow will be worse off; then, the satisfaction that he isn't any better off; and, finally, the surprise at everyone's being worse off. -- Karl Kraus
Featured Links Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict World Wildlife Fund
Other Resources from Beyond Intractability The Dynamics of Nonviolent Action The Dynamics of Nonviolent Action will be of interest to those who seek a better understanding of the mechanism and operation of nonviolent resistance.
The Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base Project Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess, Co-Directors and Editors c/o Conflict Information Consortium(Formerly Conflict Research Consortium), University of Colorado Campus Box 580, Boulder, CO 80309 Phone: (303) 492-1635; Fax: (303) 492-2154; Contact