PROGRAM

 

WORKSHOP ON CONFLICT RESOLUTION: REALITIES AND SOLUTIONS
NOVEMBER 30, 2006 AT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI

     

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The concept of conflict resolution is as old as the history of human civilization. But, it was in the post-second world war era that a professional approach was pursued, primarily in the Western world to embark on conducting meaningful research on conflicts at different levels.

Conflict is both a challenge and an opportunity. If conflict is rationally understood it can create conditions for cooperation, peace and stability. But, if there is a lack of proper awareness about the roots of conflicts and its costs, the outcome may be violence and wars. Conflict also becomes intractable when there are vested interests involved of different players in that conflict. For such players, their interests could be best served if a conflict situation sustains. Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kashmir are relevant examples to prove how conflicts in these cases are far from just and fair resolution.

The bulk of the conflicts are to be found in the developing countries because of their colonial past; unjust economic, political and social system and the failure of state authorities to take practical steps for the management and resolution of these conflicts. Interestingly, if most of the conflicts, whether these are ethnic, sectarian, religious, political, territorial or conflict over resources are located in the developing countries, but in most cases, research on these conflicts is being done in the West. It is because of the absence of the culture of research, investigation, inquiry and probe that not only concepts, ideas, approaches and theories on conflict and conflict resolution, management, prevention and de-escalation are coming from the West, but the solutions of various conflicts in the Third World are also coming from the first world.

The realities for the Developing countries in terms of conflict and conflict resolution are very bitter because, a vast majority of the people living in that part of the world lacks basic necessities of life and lives in perpetual poverty because of violence and wars emanating from such unresolved conflicts. Whether it is the Tamil insurgency in Sri Lanka, or civil strife in other South Asian countries, people are paying the price of sustained conflicts.

There is no short cut as far as the process of conflict resolution and management is concerned. Solutions of conflicts, whether at the domestic, local, provincial, national, regional or international level would require political will, accommodation, prudence and sustained efforts. Moreover, indigenous research on understanding why conflicts take place and how these could be managed or resolved should also be promoted.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, the significance and relevance of conflict management and resolution cannot be undermined. It is not only the issue of conflicts with India over Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wuller Barrage, Baghliar Dam but also conflicts at the intra-state level which is a cause of enormous instability, chaos and disorder in society. Conflict over water, ethnicity, sectarian discord and political polarization require an depth research to be conducted by the think tanks so that policy-makers are able to take steps for the management and resolution of conflicts which Pakistan is exposed to these days. In a nutshell, Pakistan also requires conflict resolution managers who can professionally deal with conflicts at various levels and come up with plausible solutions.

With better education it is possible that indigenous concepts, ideas and theories on understanding the dynamics of conflict and their resolution may be produced. Since conflict resolution is an uphill task, it is essential to see what are the ground realities in different conflicts and what are the practicable solutions. As a result of better coordination among different segments of society like media, trade and business organizations, academia, students, political groups and the state structures, it may be possible to unleash a process of conflict management and resolution in Pakistan.

Prof. Dr. Moonis Ahmar
Department of International Relations
University of Karachi and Director,
Program on Peace Studies and
Conflict Resolution

November 27, 2006

workshop program