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Forgotten and Misunderstood: Social Change in Latin AmericaMuch of Latin America is in the midst of a period of profound transition and uncertainty. The end of the Cold War dramatically changed an important geopolitical calculation: the role and influence of the United States in the region. Throughout the 1990s, the Clinton Administration readjusted the U.S.'s long-standing approach by pushing for the restoration and consolidation of democratic governments, the neoliberalization of national economies, and the creation of robust civil societies often driven by an emerging human rights discourse. The coming of the Bush regime and the events of September 11, 2001, brought a temporary re-militarization of the relationship between the U.S. and many Latin America countries for example, the expansion of the... |
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ICAR's Relationship With TurkeyRecently, I spent two weeks as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in Conflict Resolution with the M.A. Program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution (CAR) at Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey. Sabanci is located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, approximately one hour driving time from "downtown" Istanbul. Sabanci's CAR Program was established in Fall 2000—exactly one year prior to 9/11—by the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution's (ICAR) first international Ph.D. graduate, Dr. Nimet Beriker, in consultation with former ICAR professor Dr. Daniel Druckman and myself. Over the years since the program's inception, a number of ICAR faculty (including Drs. Dean Pruitt, Daniel Druckman, Christopher Mitchell, Kevin Avruch... |
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Building Bridges Across Programs Graduate Students in New Roles Teaching UndergradsInstitute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) graduate students have been in on the ground floor of the development of CAR, the Institute's undergraduate program, and have contributed significantly to its growth. In the four years of its existence many graduate students and ICAR alums have taught courses for the CAR Program, and some have served as graders or course assistants. These students and alums bring tremendous enthusiasm and cutting-edge knowledge of the field into the undergraduate classroom. In the coming years, ICAR graduate students will play increasingly important roles in teaching and program development.... |
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ICAR Working Group Explores African Ethnoscape at POV TalkOn September 27th, 2008, the scenic and serene Point of View center (POV) at Mason Neck was characterized by a buzz of human activity coming from the Virginia and Washington D.C. metro area. This was a gathering of intellectuals and practitioners from Africa and other nationals, who have the development of Africa at heart, who gathered to deliberate and brainstorm ways to erase the myth that Africa is a dark continent. Members of the Africa Working Group (AWG) at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) and interested stakeholders came together at POV for the first ever joint retreat and seminar. The working group is an organization comprised of students, faculty, alumni and practitioners who are interested in Africa. The event... |
Upcoming ICAR Community EventsFor more info on events, email: [email protected]. November 11: Celebration and Launch of the November 13: Launch of the 2008-2009 ICAR Advisory Board Mentoring Program November 18: Brown Bag Lecture Featuring Rafi Nets- Zehngut on Palestinian Refugee Issues November 20: ICAR Open House and Auction |
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Recent ICAR Articles, Op-Eds and Letters to the EditorThe Call for Change In the White House Is an Understatement Veterans Have Earned and Deserve Help and Respect Obama: The Model Candidate for American Muslims in... |
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ICAR Student OpinionNovember 4: A Vote for Your Future November 4th, 2008, will be remembered centuries from now when the histories of these times are written. The next president faces a myriad of convergent leadership challenges and opportunities that are unique to this historic moment. First, the global financial crisis is beginning to look more and more like another Great Depression. In one year, the Dow Jones Industrial Average on the New York Stock Exchange shaved off 40 percent with most of it occurring in the first week of October. Presidential leadership will be necessary if the United States and other nations are to discover new avenues of cooperation that will ensure more peaceful and productive relations down the road... |
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Jana El HorrAs this year's recipient of the Mary Lynn Boland award, a Fulbright scholar, and founding member of the Center for Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, I asked Ph.D. student Jana El Horr what else she would like to accomplish. Her response was simple: "My next big goal is to finish my dissertation in addition to learning five new languages." This is one full plate, and there is still more. Jana is the International Peacebuilding Fellow at the American Islamic Congress and is spearheading efforts to strengthen Arab-Muslim participation in the Darfur movement. Jana has worked extensively with issues of conflict resolution in the Middle East and organized youth training seminars on issues of leadership, youth... |
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Hussein YusufHussein Yusuf's life changed forever in 1991 when insurgents drove his family out Somalia. His family returned to Somalia several times after, whereupon his father set up feeding stations for refugees. Upon return, Yusuf was forbidden by his father from joining the tribal militias and to this day sees himself as a refugee. At the age of 18, Yusuf fled to Yemen where he volunteered with refugees and worked later with Partners for Development, an implementing partner for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. In lieu of formal high education, Yusuf was able to use his research and language skills to benefit his work with refugees. Hussein's work included interviewing refugees for repatriation and... |
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ICAR Attends 8th Annual Association of Conflict Resolution Conference in TexasAustin, Texas, was the host city for the 8th Annual Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) Conference. The Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) hosted an exhibit table to highlight new media outreach initiatives. Past faculty and student TV interviews were digitally displayed, and information on the ICAR undergraduate and graduate programs was distributed. ICAR's Communications Director and Ph.D. Candidate Michael Shank presented a workshop titled "Impacting Policy via Media." Mr. Shank also facilitated the process of inviting and introducing former U.S. Congressman Lee Hamilton, who co-chaired the 9/11 Commission and Iraq Study Group reports, to be the keynote speaker at the conference. Mr. Hamilton spoke about the top ten... |