Conflict NegotiationMediation

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

The course on Conflict Resolution and Mediation is based on the premise that conflict resolution in both professional and personal settings is essential for forging successful relationships between people, communities, organizations, and countries. Conflict is an inherent part of our social experience and present at all levels of our interactions, from interpersonal to intergroup and international. Conflict can be violent and destructive -- or spur creativity, leading to positive outcomes that benefit all stakeholders. The course seeks to cultivate theoretical understanding about the root causes of conflict, which are typically rooted in competing claims, and explore practical remedies between parties in dispute. It provides information on the dynamics of conflict and seeks to develop skills that can be used to transform conflict into an opportunity for personal growth, building common ground, opening lines of communication, and fostering mutual understanding through contact, communication and cooperation. The course includes three components: (i) theory/practice, (ii) case studies, and a (iii) diplomatic simulation. It profiles actual conflicts as prototypes for understanding and addressing disputes. Awareness and skills cultivated through the course are also considered in the context of actual world events where conflict has occurred. The course culminates with a diplomatic simulation where information is presented on a conflict with the potential to escalate into deadly violence. Students are asked to apply knowledge garnered in the course and develop a conflict resolution strategy that addresses the root causes of disagreement and provides the opportunity for a positive outcome. The learning objective seeks to develop the student’s skills as a scholar-practitioner.