Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict

Introduction: Peter Coleman of Columbia University says thir parties are not netural, as they actually wield enormous power.

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Neutrality
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

Interviewed by
Julian Portilla
2003

...One of the things that I really learned and that I fundamentally believe is that there is no such thing as neutrality. That neutrality is a game and it's really about positioning yourself vis-à-vis parties. That the decisions that change agents make in the systems have a huge impact on the system and they have to really understand the nature of that impact because it will not be sort of removed, neutral facilitators who are just trying to bring people together in their own interests. We make a lot of decisions that have a huge impact on the nature of their relations and the long-term nature of the conflict.

I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action. -- Malcolm X

Featured Links
Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict

OECD Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC)

Other Resources from
Beyond Intractability

Peacebuilding Checklist: For Adversaries

Peacebuilding Checklist: Adversaries
A list of things to think about if you are involved in a difficult or damaging conflict.

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Nelson Mandela
Prominent figure in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and 1993 Nobel Peace Laureate

Beyond Intractability Version IV
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Project Acknowledgements

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
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