ABSTRACT

The Rationale of Conflict Resolution Research
Moonis Ahmar

Conflict Resolution Research (CRR) means a process which can help people, groups and countries to cope with situations which cause violence and destruction. Emerged as a result of changing nature of conflicts in the post-second world war era, CRR attempted to carry out path breaking studies for understanding the causes of conflicts and mechanism for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, particularly in the developing world. While CRR flourished in the Western world because of the existence of research culture, not much headway was achieved to promote a thought process in the under-developed countries for carrying out meaningful research in order to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts which caused enormous material and physical destruction.

No country can deny the importance of research in the arena of human development. Yet, there are innumerable examples to prove the lack of priority given to research in societies where there is a legitimate need to deal with issues by undertaking investigative studies. Societies, which are knowledge friendly and are committed to promote the culture of research, it is not an uphill task to seek a peaceful resolution of conflicts.
The emergence of conflict resolution research needs to be examined from four angles. First, the existence of the culture of probe, inquiry, investigation and seeking truth. Second, the role of scientists and researchers to carry out path breaking studies for seeking a better understanding of various conflicts and coming up with plausible solutions. Third, the presence of vibrant research centers and think tanks in various societies to undertake research on studying comparative conflicts in an analytical manner and finally, the impact of CRR on the policy-making process.

This paper will examine the emergence of conflict resolution research from conceptual and practical aspects. It will respond to following questions:-

1. What is conflict resolution research and how it evolved?
2. What are the impediments in CRR and these could be removed?
3. How CRR can come up with practical solutions of conflicts which are of an complex nature?
4. How CRR can play a vital role for preventing, managing and resolving conflicts in South Asia?
5. How gaps in theory and practice in CRR can be bridged?
Six important factors which play a significant role in establishing the culture of CRR are:
1. Scope of scientific reasoning
2. Tolerance and objectivity
3. Focus on human development
4. Vibrant educational system
5. Application of professional approach
6. A forward looking approach

When a country and its leadership is knowledge friendly and keeps the interests of people supreme, there is no way a conducive environment for research, particularly in conflict and conflict resolution is created.

 

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