Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict
Polarization
Laura Chasin suggests that that the degeneration of public discourse poses a threat to democracy.
William Ury begins explaining his role in trying to prevent a civil war in Venezuela, where the country is extremely polarized between those who support the president and those who oppose him. Like many other countries, it is essentially a conflict between the "haves" and "have nots." Before Ury came in and introduced his notion of "the third side" or people "for the whole," there was no room for neutrals-people were forced to take a side.
Terrence Lyons talks about the roles that diaspora populations can play both as spoilers and as dialogue participants.
What's an "extremist?" Roy Lewicki discusses how language can make a conflict better or worse.
Peter Coleman describes an abortion dialogue in which the parties came to respect each other and protect one another, but they were still very polarized on the abortion issue.
This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).
One day we shall win freedom, but not only for ourselves. We shall so appeal to your heart and conscience that we shall win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory. -- Martin Luther King
Featured Links Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict Centre for Conflict Resolution
Other Resources from Beyond Intractability Red State/ Blue State: US Political Polarization Though US politics has long been divided along ideological lines, the last two presidential elections have created increased polarization between liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans. How did this happen? Is it good for the country? Can anything be done to reunited us?
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Joseph Rotblat Prominent opponent of nuclear weaponry, and 1995 Nobel Peace Laureate
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
