Overview
For this paper, you will focus on the conflict case discussed in your Theories of Change assignment (Navigating the Abyss: Addressing the Complex Conflict in AI).
You should analyze this conflict using at least two theories covered in the readings. First, use the theories to assess why the conflict is occurring. Then, propose an intervention to resolve the conflict, using these same theories or additional ones as needed to justify why your intervention will work, based on the Theory of Change you have already identified. Finally, propose an evaluation framework - based on your theories - through which your client/target community will later be able to judge the impact of your intervention.
Imagine you have been hired as a consultant to assess an ongoing, unresolved conflict. In the paper, you will need to briefly describe the key features of the conflict and the actors involved. You will then need to analyze and assess that conflict, using at least two theories we have discussed in class and drawing from at least one conflict assessment framework we have discussed. Using Required Texts , do the following:
a. What framework are you using to analyze this conflict, and why?
b. What are the origins of this conflict/why the conflict is occurring? (Here you
should be drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives from those
readings from the required texts)
c. Describe what some of the main issues that need to be addressed as a result of
this conflict, based on the analysis you have done.
d. What do these theories and your readings in this field suggest might be a possible path forward to resolve the conflict? Propose an intervention to resolve the conflict, using these same theories or additional ones as needed to justify why
your intervention will work (this is the logic or 'theory of change' that you are
using to convince your client, and/or their funders, that your proposed
intervention should be carried out – use your Theories of Change assignment （ (Navigating the Abyss: Addressing the Complex Conflict in AI) as
the basis for this section.
Your discussion should address the following questions:
a. What are your overall peacebuilding goals?
b. What are the activities you propose?
c. What are outcomes/results you believe will result from this activity/these
activities?
d. What resources will be needed to accomplish this intervention?
e. What are the assumptions you have about this intervention (this is your
theory of change)
f. Based on your theories, identify what you think the impact of your
intervention will be. What are the goals that the intervention hopes to
achieve, and what indicators might you look for that would illustrate
success in achieving those goals, or in other words, that you can use to
measure those goals?
You should write this paper as though you have been hired by one of the parties in this conflict to assess the conflict - target your analysis and recommendations to this client (rather than writing the paper as an academic manuscript). You should spend as little space as possible presenting the details of the conflict – the bulk of the paper (75% or more) should focus on analyzing the conflict and proposing an intervention using theories discussed in class.
You can structure your paper in any way you’d like, but make sure you are using sections to organize your thoughts, and that you follow the guidelines above for what to include in the paper.
Other Information:
1. Your paper should be approximately 2000 words in length (10 double spaced
pages), with reasonable margins.
2. Chicago Manual of Style citations, or other academic citation method must be
followed.
3. should use footnotes and a bibliography/list of references if using Chicago MS. If you decide to use APA or another citation style, please comply with the citation requirements, including in-text citations, footnoted/endnotes, and/or bibliography.
4. Title pages and reference pages do not count in the 2000-word limit.
5. Consult the Writing Rubric below to guide your engagement.
6. All ideas and thoughts must be your own. If something is a direct quote or idea from the text, please use correct quotations and author/page citations. Required Texts:
*Coleman, Peter T., Deutsch, Morton and Eric C. Marcus, Eds. 2014. The Handbook of Conflict
Resolution: Theory and Practice. 3rd edition. John Wiley & Sons. https://inclassreadings.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/handbook-of-conflict-resolution.pdf
*Lederach, John Paul. 1997. Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies.
Washington DC: United States Institute of Peace Press.
*Pruitt, Dean G., Rubin and Sung Hee Kim. 2004. Social Conflict: Escalation, Stalemate, and
Settlement. 3rd edition. Boston: McGraw Hill.
*Schirch, L. (2013). Conflict Assessment & Peacebuilding Planning. Boulder, CO: Kumarian Press.
Recommended Texts:
to make use of the website Beyond Intractability:
http://www.beyondintractability.org/library/essay-...
This collection of essays covers nearly all the topics presented below and can be a useful backup to help explain or elaborate upon the assigned readings.