PMU Conference on Conflict Prevention and Resolution: Seeing the Glass Half Full
Dr. Mohammad Bashayreh*
Dr. Muhammad Waqar Ashraf*
In an ever-changing world, political, economic, and social changes tend to carry with them seeds of new conflicts. Natural phenomena, too, can trigger conflicts – Differences in the international response to climate change are one example. However, to see the glass as half full, world developments that may cause opposing interests and divergent goals are, at the same time, capable of opening up opportunities for conflict management and resolution. Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University organized an international virtual conference as a forum for scholars and researchers to discuss conflict prevention and resolution in a changing world.
The role of technology and media in conflict was one theme of the conference. Conflict is viewed as cyclical as it escalates, if not well-managed or resolved, from a stable or relatively stable situation between two or more parties to a crisis or violent situation. The advent of the fourth industrial revolution and the ubiquity of social media have been mixed blessings. Deployed in a positive way, technology, and social media can help in conflict management, prevent escalation, or de-escalate a crisis. By contrast, relatively stable peace could be moved to a heated phase of a conflict cycle by, for instance, cyberattacks or fake news.
While social media is a phenomenon of the twenty-first century, communication technologies and mass media have constantly affected how conflicts develop and how they are approached. Social media has reinforced the impact of communication technologies as it has empowered individuals, groups, and non-state actors in general. Each individual can virtually become a broadcaster and speak to millions of people.
One major concern is that social media and advanced communication technologies may take an active role in conflicts. It is true that disinformation is an old phenomenon. Researchers have examined the roots of disinformation and shaping public opinion since at least the early twentieth century. However, the transformational impact of communication technologies has been much felt in the last few years, where fake news and promoters of conspiracy theories flourished on the Internet, raising concerns at the national level, like in the United States, but also worldwide as we all witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, looking at the glass half full, research on the impact of communication technology and social media would help understand the psychology of social media and belief in misinformation so that effective solutions can be developed to reduce the effects of fake news.
An effective legal framework is also vital for conflict prevention and resolution both through the court system and outside the courts. Mediation plays a significant role in conflict prevention and resolution. While conflicts may reoccur between individuals, business people, groups, and states, mediation is capable of rebuilding broken relationships. It can transform relationships and create collaborations based on common interests and “win-win” mechanisms. Community mediation, often offered by not-for-profit organizations, is an important highlight in the context of conflict prevention. Yet, to optimize the role of mediation reliable research results are needed regarding the level of use of mediation in the community, the types of disputes resolved through mediation, and the success of mediation in reducing the reoccurrence of disputes. As discussed during the conference, it would appear that comprehensive and reliable data about community mediation is lacking due to the confidential nature of mediation. Reliable data may be found in respect of cases resolved through court-ordered mediation. However, for disputes that were never submitted to a court data is scarce. This topic is intriguing and invites for empirical research projects carried out collaboratively by academics and practitioners. The glass is half-full with the almost invariable acceptance of mediation across cultures; mediation is increasingly used in international business disputes and it is offered by dispute resolution centers that offered initially arbitration only.
Law also provides mechanisms for resolving difficult economic, social, cultural, and political issues through constitutional courts. In Latin America, for example, courts in many countries now play a central political role through adjudicating the constitutionality of laws. While courts may determine disputes involving political parties, branches of government, or individual rights vis. the government, their role may affect the distinction between politics and law. Besides, constitutional questions about the separation of powers, judicial intervention may not be conducive to reducing the reoccurrence of conflict.
Mediation, by contrast, is more apt to remedy broken relationships.
In post-conflict situations, economic development assistance or increased political participation are vital for the prevention of subsequent conflicts. Economic growth in Syria, for instance, has been examined by researchers to forecast possible scenarios and how the consequences of conflict for people could be mitigated.
Conflict is an obstacle to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). Conflict, insecurity, weak institutions, and limited access to justice remain great threat to sustainable development. In formalizing peace, governance, and justice as prerequisites for sustainable development, SDG 16 has accentuated the primacy of positive peace in conflict management processes. In particular, SDG 16 is to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.” Among the targets and indicators under SDG 16 are “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere” and “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The role of courts and mediation foster the achievement of SDG 16 and the said targets.
We hope that the selected conference papers published in this special issue will elucidate salient aspects of conflict management and resolution for the twenty-first century. Although the selected papers do not cover all the themes discussed during the conference sessions, they will, we are sure, evoke curiosity to investigate various aspects of conflict prevention and resolution, which will be a defining feature of the decades to come.
* Guest editor, Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia.
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Dr. Mohammad Bashayreh*
Dr. Muhammad Waqar Ashraf*
In an ever-changing world, political, economic, and social changes tend to carry with them seeds of new conflicts. Natural phenomena, too, can trigger conflicts – Differences in the international response to climate change are one example. However, to see the glass as half full, world developments that may cause opposing interests and divergent goals are, at the same time, capable of opening up opportunities for conflict management and resolution. Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University organized an international virtual conference as a forum for scholars and researchers to discuss conflict prevention and resolution in a changing world.
The role of technology and media in conflict was one theme of the conference. Conflict is viewed as cyclical as it escalates, if not well-managed or resolved, from a stable or relatively stable situation between two or more parties to a crisis or violent situation. The advent of the fourth industrial revolution and the ubiquity of social media have been mixed blessings. Deployed in a positive way, technology, and social media can help in conflict management, prevent escalation, or de-escalate a crisis. By contrast, relatively stable peace could be moved to a heated phase of a conflict cycle by, for instance, cyberattacks or fake news.
While social media is a phenomenon of the twenty-first century, communication technologies and mass media have constantly affected how conflicts develop and how they are approached. Social media has reinforced the impact of communication technologies as it has empowered individuals, groups, and non-state actors in general. Each individual can virtually become a broadcaster and speak to millions of people.
One major concern is that social media and advanced communication technologies may take an active role in conflicts. It is true that disinformation is an old phenomenon. Researchers have examined the roots of disinformation and shaping public opinion since at least the early twentieth century. However, the transformational impact of communication technologies has been much felt in the last few years, where fake news and promoters of conspiracy theories flourished on the Internet, raising concerns at the national level, like in the United States, but also worldwide as we all witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Again, looking at the glass half full, research on the impact of communication technology and social media would help understand the psychology of social media and belief in misinformation so that effective solutions can be developed to reduce the effects of fake news.
An effective legal framework is also vital for conflict prevention and resolution both through the court system and outside the courts. Mediation plays a significant role in conflict prevention and resolution. While conflicts may reoccur between individuals, business people, groups, and states, mediation is capable of rebuilding broken relationships. It can transform relationships and create collaborations based on common interests and “win-win” mechanisms. Community mediation, often offered by not-for-profit organizations, is an important highlight in the context of conflict prevention. Yet, to optimize the role of mediation reliable research results are needed regarding the level of use of mediation in the community, the types of disputes resolved through mediation, and the success of mediation in reducing the reoccurrence of disputes. As discussed during the conference, it would appear that comprehensive and reliable data about community mediation is lacking due to the confidential nature of mediation. Reliable data may be found in respect of cases resolved through court-ordered mediation. However, for disputes that were never submitted to a court data is scarce. This topic is intriguing and invites for empirical research projects carried out collaboratively by academics and practitioners. The glass is half-full with the almost invariable acceptance of mediation across cultures; mediation is increasingly used in international business disputes and it is offered by dispute resolution centers that offered initially arbitration only.
Law also provides mechanisms for resolving difficult economic, social, cultural, and political issues through constitutional courts. In Latin America, for example, courts in many countries now play a central political role through adjudicating the constitutionality of laws. While courts may determine disputes involving political parties, branches of government, or individual rights vis. the government, their role may affect the distinction between politics and law. Besides, constitutional questions about the separation of powers, judicial intervention may not be conducive to reducing the reoccurrence of conflict.
Mediation, by contrast, is more apt to remedy broken relationships.
In post-conflict situations, economic development assistance or increased political participation are vital for the prevention of subsequent conflicts. Economic growth in Syria, for instance, has been examined by researchers to forecast possible scenarios and how the consequences of conflict for people could be mitigated.
Conflict is an obstacle to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). Conflict, insecurity, weak institutions, and limited access to justice remain great threat to sustainable development. In formalizing peace, governance, and justice as prerequisites for sustainable development, SDG 16 has accentuated the primacy of positive peace in conflict management processes. In particular, SDG 16 is to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.” Among the targets and indicators under SDG 16 are “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere” and “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The role of courts and mediation foster the achievement of SDG 16 and the said targets.
We hope that the selected conference papers published in this special issue will elucidate salient aspects of conflict management and resolution for the twenty-first century. Although the selected papers do not cover all the themes discussed during the conference sessions, they will, we are sure, evoke curiosity to investigate various aspects of conflict prevention and resolution, which will be a defining feature of the decades to come.
* Guest editor, Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia.
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