Seminar Series


Overview

 

Practitioners who are able to help parties reconcile the emotions involved in long standing conflicts can effectively lead conflicted communities to sustainable resolution and facilitate transformative change.   Participants will acknowledge the deep-rooted nature of value-based perceptions that lie beneath the surface of disputes. Graduates of the series are equipped to become skilled in leading community based interventions involving deep-rooted conflicts.  

The Seminar Series approaches conflict from a theoretical perspective to complement skills based training.

 
Is the Seminar Series for You?  

 

Many organizations are aware that practitioners who apply theories of deep-rooted, identity based conflict can effectively lead communities to reconciliation and healing. If you wonder about working at the emotional level of identity conflict this series will be for you. The series will include seminars on deep-rooted conflict, reconciliation and healing, community based conflict management and interventions.


Seminar One – Deep-Rooted Conflict

 
Deep-Rooted Conflict presents Redekop's widely accepted theory of human identity needs implicated in peace and conflict. Participants learn that emotions are formed from universal needs that are threatened and satisfied in ways defined by unique backgrounds and experiences. Power imbalances, scapegoating and other familiar strategies can influence emotional reactions to create conflict.
 
Participants have an opportunity to work within a comprehensive theoretical model and apply it to real life conflict situations.

Participants will learn how to:

 

  • explain deep-rooted conflict;
  • describe human identity needs implicated in peace and conflict;
  • explain mimetic theory;
  • predict the impact of variables that intensify conflict;
  • apply deep-rooted conflict theory to conflict situations;
  • examine the underlying mechanisms behind escalating violence; scapegoating, power struggles, and interethnic conflict; and
  • analyze interpersonal, intranational and international conflict scenarios.


Seminar Two – Reconciliation and Healing

 

This Seminar will explain reconciliation as both a process and an outcome. Participants describe and evaluate the issues of justice, trust, and forgiveness and demonstrate healing rituals that transform identities.   Participants will relate reconciliation to human identity needs and other concepts associated with  deep-rooted conflict.
Participants will learn how to:

 

  • Describe three elements of deep-rooted conflict; human identity needs, human identity needs throughtime and mimetic desire
  • Explain reconciliation as an outcome (what happens in a reconciled relationship)
  • Analyze the cycle of violence associated with trauma
  • Explain the relevance of justice to reconciliation
  • Explain how the dynamics of trust relate to reconciliation
  • Evaluate healing processes and explore how they may be integrated into conflict resolution programs
  • Evaluate stories of forgiveness that illustrate principles
  • Describe the process of reconciliation
  • Demonstrate rituals of reconciliation that transform identities

(prerequisite Seminar One)

 


Seminar Three – Community Based Conflict Resolution

Community Based Conflict Resolution (CBCR) analyzes the role of community in conflict and in building peace.
 
Participants will combine the key principles of deep-rooted conflict and CBCR methodology with their growing knowledge of community to formulate conflict resolving processes for a community.
 
(prerequisite Seminar One)

   


Seminar Four – Intervention

 

This Seminar explores the practicalities of conflict management processes; who intervenes, how, and what options are available.

Participants will develop a tool kit of intervention strategies and apply them to situations of deeprooted conflict.
 
(prerequisites Seminars One, Two and Three)

   

 

Appreciation is extended to Vern Neufeld Redekop, Ph.D., professor of conflict studies at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, for amassing the concepts of deep-rooted conflict in “From Violence to Blessing: How an understanding of deep-rooted conflict can open paths to reconciliation” that form the foundation of the Seminar Series and for his work in developing the original series.


 



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