Conflict Resolution and Human Needs: Linking Theory and Practice

264 Pages·2013·3.02 MB·English

by  Kevin Avruch

ROUTLEDGE STUDIES IN PEACE AND CONFLICT
RESOLUTION
Conflict Resolution and
Human Needs
Linking theory and practice
Edited by
Kevin Avruch and Christopher Mitchell
Conflict Resolution and Human
Needs
This edited volume examines Basic Human Needs theory and interactive problem
solving, looking at recent developments in thinking about both and how these
might affect peacebuilding in contemporary conflicts of the twenty-fi rst century.
The era in the immediate aftermath of World War II was, paradoxically, a time
of great optimism in parts of academia. There was, especially in the United States
and much of Europe, a widespread belief in the social sciences that systematic
scholarly analysis would enable humanity to understand and do something about
the most complex of social processes, and thus about solving persistent human
problems: unemployment, delinquency, racism, under-d evelopment, and even
issues of conflict, war and peace.
This book examines the evolution of Basic Human Needs theory and is divided
into two key parts: Basic Human Needs in Theory and Basic Human Needs in Prac-
tice. Exploring this theory through a wide range of different lenses, including
gender, ethics and power, the volume brings together some of the leading scholars
in the field of peace and conflict studies and draws upon research both past and
present to forecast where the movement is headed in the future.
This book will be of much interest to students of peace and conflict studies,
conflict resolution, psychology, security studies and IR.
Kevin Avruch is the Henry Hart Rice Professor of Conflict Resolution and Pro-
fessor of Anthropology at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, and
Senior Fellow and faculty in the Peace Operations Policy Program, School of
Public Policy, at George Mason University. He is author or editor of six books,
including Context and Pretext in Conflict Resolution: Culture, Identity, Power and Practice
(2012), Culture and Conflict Resolution (1998) and Information Campaigns for Peace
Operations (2000).
Christopher Mitchell is currently Emeritus Professor of Conflict Research at
George Mason University, Virginia, where he was Director of the Institute for Con-
flict Analysis and Resolution between 1991 and 1994. Most recently he has pub-
lished Gestures of Conciliation (2000), A Handbook of Conflict Resolution (1995) and
(with Landon Hancock) Zones of Peace (2007).
Routledge Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution
Series Editors: Tom Woodhouse and Oliver Ramsbotham
University of Bradford
Peace and Security in the Transforming Violent Conflict
Postmodern World Radical disagreement, dialogue and
The OSCE and conflict resolution survival
Dennis J.D. Sandole Oliver Ramsbotham
Truth Recovery and Justice after Governing Ethnic Conflict
Conflict Consociation, identity and the
Managing violent pasts price of peace
Marie Breen Smyth Andrew Finlay
Political Discourse and Conflict
Peace in International Relations
Resolution
Oliver P. Richmond
Debating peace in Northern
Ireland
Social Capital and Peace-B uilding
Edited by Katy Hayward and
Creating and resolving conflict with
Catherine O’Donnell
trust and social networks
Edited by Michaelene Cox
Economic Assistance and Conflict
Transformation
Business, Conflict Resolution and
Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland
Peacebuilding
Sean Byrne
Contributions from the private
sector to address violent conflict
Liberal Peacebuilding and Global
Derek Sweetman
Governance
Beyond the metropolis
Creativity and Conflict Resolution David Roberts
Alternative pathways to peace
Tatsushi Arai A Post- Liberal Peace
Oliver P. Richmond
Climate Change and Armed
Conflict Peace Research
Hot and Cold Wars Theory and practice
James R. Lee Peter Wallensteen
Reconciliation after Terrorism Peacebuilding and NGOs
Strategy, possibility or absurdity? State–civil society interactions
Judith Renner and Alexander Spencer Ryerson Christie
Post- War Security Transitions Peace Negotiations and Time
Participatory peacebuilding after Deadline diplomacy in territorial
asymmetric conflicts disputes
Edited by Veronique Dudouet, Hans Marco Pinfari
Giessman and Katrin Planta
History Education and Post-
Rethinking Peacebuilding Conflict Reconciliation
The quest for just peace in the Reconsidering joint textbook
Middle East and the Western projects
Balkans Edited by Karina V. Korostelina and
Edited by Karin Aggestam and Simone Lässig
Annika Björkdahl
Conflict Resolution and Human
Violent Conflict and Needs
Peacebuilding Linking theory and practice
The continuing crisis in Darfur Edited by Kevin Avruch and
Johan Brosché and Daniel Rothbart Christopher Mitchell
This page intentionally left blank
Conflict Resolution and
Human Needs
Linking theory and practice
Edited by Kevin Avruch and
Christopher Mitchell
First published 2013
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2013 selection and editorial material, Kevin Avruch and
Christopher Mitchell; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the
editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters,
has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Conflict resolution and human needs : linking theory and practice /
edited by Kevin Avruch and Christopher Mitchell
pages cm. – (Routledge studies in peace and conflict resolution)
1. Conflict management. 2. Basic needs. I. Avruch, Kevin.
II. Mitchell, C. R. (Christopher Roger), 1934–
HM1126.C653 2013
303.6'9–dc23
2012042466
ISBN: 978-0-415-62990-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-09821-9 (ebk)
Typeset in Baskerville
by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear
To John W. Burton, Leonard W. Doob and Herbert C. Kelman,
pioneers of interactive problem solving and conflict resolution
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
List of illustrations xi
Notes on contributors xii
Acknowledgments xvii
Introduction: Basic Human Needs in theory and practice 1
KEVIN AVRUCH AND CHRISTOPHER MITCHELL
PART I
Basic Human Needs in theory 19
1 Extending the reach of Basic Human Needs: a
comprehensive theory for the twenty-fi rst century 21
DENNIS J.D. SANDOLE
2 Basic Human Needs and the dilemma of power in conflict
resolution 40
KEVIN AVRUCH
3 Through gender lenses: Human Needs theory in conflict
resolution 59
INGRID SANDOLE- STAROSTE
4 Moral judgments, Human Needs and conflict resolution:
alternative approaches to ethical standards 77
LOUIS KRIESBERG
5 Ethics of the conflict resolution mediator: from scientific
gaze to sensitive and skillful action 95
TARJA VÄYRYNEN