Conflict Resolution

NEW PERSPECTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUTURE OF EUROPE AND THE WORLD Brno, Czech Republic March 11, 2009

Conflict Resolution Dr. Frank Kaufmann Inter Religious Federation for World Peace New World Encyclopedia

Conflict resolution A broad topic

This topic is vast and can be discussed and taught for the length of an entire course, or even be studied as a multidisciplinary "major."

Conflict resolution A sub-topic

An isolated sub-aspect of the larger concept or program to build and sustain enduring PEACE, opportunity, and prosperity. Conflict resolution is a subtopic of peace

Peace Programs for peace are necessary even where there is not conflict Peace has 3 interrelated bases that must be recognized, understood, and in order The elements (players) The conditions The relations (dynamics)

Peace Investing in peace involves us in three distinct and different activities Building Establishing Sustaining

The relationship between peace and conflict resolution Peace work does not require the existence of conflict to be necessary If conflict is present peace work cannot effectively proceed Conflict cannot be resolved absent the context of a sound program for peace This is one major reason that despite massive, costly efforts to resolve conflict, conflict persists

Conflict resolution (Today’s topic)

Three universals are found in ALL occasions of conflict The core dynamic of evil An identifiable relational structure and dynamic from a total of 6 possible choices The presence of both material and non-material (spiritual) aspects.

The core dynamic of evil Conflict is the opposite of love Love The welfare of the other overwhelms any concern I have for myself

Conflict The welfare (or even worse, greed) of myself or the group with which I identify overwhelms any concern I have for the other

Conflict arises out of the willingness to sacrifice the other for my self or my group “Boundary dissolution”

The 6 universal relations The Family is the microcosm of all human relations, no matter how large or how small the groups (political, cultural, social) in question Bi-directional parental relations (gender) Bi-directional sibling relations (elder, younger) Bi-directional parent-child relations All would be peacemakers have lifelong on the job training

Conflict is material and nonmaterial (spiritual) Resolution MUST incorporate elements that are both material and spiritual. That is the nature of what you are dealing with (conflict) The spiritual uniquely contains the single most indispensable seeds for resolution Spirit is self-giving, matter is self maintaining. Material does not have an inherent rationale for the resolution of conflict Repentance, forgiveness. (Non-rational outside religious or spiritual understanding)

Religious conflict All religions should take the lead to repent for the abundance and increase of conflict in our world As the institutions responsible to safeguard and provide the core and requisite dynamic for conflict resolution, religions must take the lead in resolving our own conflicts. This will restore the status and proper role of religion and spiritual life in the modern world.