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

Introduction: Listening is the most important skill conflict intervenors can have, according to conflict resolution scholar and practitioner, Paul Wehr, from the University of Colorado.

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Most Important Skill
Paul Wehr
Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Colorado

Interviewed by
Julian Portilla
2003

People in this field always have to be good listeners. In the academic world we tend to want to talk more than to listen. We like to hear ourselves talk. So I would suggest for people coming into the field that if they're not good listeners already, they should develop good listening skills because the best conflict specialists are the ones who listen, watch, observe patiently, before they even begin to try analyze what is going on.

If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in the struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos. -- Martin Luther King Jr.

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

Conflict Resolution Network (NSW, Australia)

Other Resources from
Beyond Intractability

A User's Guide for Third Siders
The Third Side concept was developed by William Ury. Third Siders are people who try to see both sides of a conflict and encourage cooperative solutions, fair fights, and decision making that advocates solutions which meet everyone's interests and needs as much as possible.

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Though nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times, Gandhi never received the award. Yet, his practice of nonviolent social action and humanitarianism enduringly provides history with one of the most poignant examples of the peaceful change that one individual can inspire.

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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