CULTURE IN
CONFLICT

– A CONVERSATION

 

  16 November 2021

About the Event:

Culture plays a crucial part in every conflict. While only a small segment is visible on the surface, the powerful core of meaning lies in the depths of the collective psyche. From these depths comes our perception of ourselves and of the other, our moral and world views, beliefs, judgements and relationships.

But are cultural differences at the root of conflict? How to move from the concept that culture is a barrier in conflict resolution to the concept of harnessing the power of culture to resolve them? Could culture provide the means and tools for finding common ground, help us to overcome hurdles, improve communication?

 

The discussion will take place on Tuesday, 16 November 2021, from 13:00 to 14:00 CET via Zoom.

Join Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, former chief negotiator in the Philippine peace process and former member of the UN Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisers; Alastair Crooke, former advisor on Middle East issues to the EU Foreign Policy Chief, and a member of the UN’s Alliance of Civilizations Global Experts; Emmanuel Habuka Bombande, UN Senior Mediation Adviser and Former Deputy Foreign Minister of Ghana;  for a panel that brings insights into the role of culture in conflict, looks into different ways of approaching intractable cross-cultural conflict, and offers perspectives on how to understand, absorb and transcend otherness and polarity. Miloš Strugar, Director of Conflux Center and UN Senior Mediation Adviser, will moderate.

The event is geared toward both practitioners and academics with a deep interest in conflict resolution. Our aim is also to contribute to developing a transnational network of contacts and cooperation. Finally, the webinar will serve to inspire and engage the professionals in an array of fields and invite them to attend the virtual training course “Resolution of Cross-Cultural Conflict Through Negotiation, Facilitation, and Mediation: How to Manage the Cultural Dimension in Conflict Resolution”.

16 November 2021

PLATFORM:              LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

Speakers

Emmanuel Habuka Bombande
EMMANUEL HABUKA
BOMBANDE
Senior Mediation Adviser,
former Deputy Foreign
Minister of Ghana
Alistair Crooke
ALASTAIR CROOKE
Director and Founder
of Conflicts Forum
MIRIAM
CORONEL-FERRER
Professor, Department of
Political Science,
University of the Philippines,
Senior Mediation Adviser

Moderator

Miloš Strugar
MILOŠ STRUGAR
UN Senior Mediation Adviser
Executive Director of Conflux Center
for Intercultural Dialogue and Mediation

“RESOLUTION OF CROSS-CULTURAL
CONFLICT THROUGH NEGOTIATION,
FACILITATION AND MEDIATION”

How to Manage the Cultural Dimension
in Conflict Resolution

 

  29 November – 3 December 2021

About the Virtual Course

The course will look into different ways of approaching intractable cross-cultural conflicts. While some assume that these conflicts are caused by the existence of cultural differences, others claim that the root causes stem from perceptions, difficulties in communicating and understanding each other, dictated by cultural frameworks. The course will focus on common ground for intercultural and interreligious dialogue, as well as on exploring various methods for resolving cross-cultural conflicts through dialogue and negotiations, or third-party facilitation and mediation. The course will also look into ways of improving the conflict resolution processes by cultural means and instruments.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

— Define and understand cross-cultural conflict and its relations to identity, ethnicity and religion;
— Acquire insights into the role of culture in conflict, and into ways the concepts of culture are being framed in negotiation, mediation, conflict prevention and resolution;
— Apply acquired skills in cross-cultural conflict analysis, conflict monitoring and stakeholders mapping by using relevant tools and techniques;
— Better understand cross-cultural conflict drivers, actors and dynamics, and identify historic and structural causes of conflict;
— Understand the role of culture in interpreting behavior and actions, and in meaning- making, as well as the importance of a set of values, both overt and invisible;
— Develop mediation strategies and inclusive mediation processes in cross-cultural settings and use various modalities for a greater inclusion of women;
— Apply various methods and a range of skills, techniques and good practices for resolving cross-cultural conflicts through dialogue and negotiations, or third-party facilitation and mediation;

— Differentiate culture-driven negotiation styles and skills, and design negotiation strategy to tackle the cultural dimension in conflict resolution;
— Identify common ground for intercultural and interreligious dialogue;
— Apply essential skills for mediating cross-cultural conflict;
— Acquire and be able to apply communication skills and techniques in cross-cultural communication;
— Understand and apply ways of improving the conflict resolution processes by cultural means and instruments;
— Deal with political, moral and legal dilemmas which may arise in cross-cultural conflict resolution and mediation.

This program is designed for senior and mid-level staff members working in international organizations headquarters and field operations (UN, AU, OSCE, EU, etc.), and those working in governments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, or preparing to serve in peace operations and in diplomatic service. The objective of the course is to enhance their specific knowledge and skills to manage the cultural dimension, as well as to enable them to develop a deeper understanding of ways to prevent, mitigate, and resolve cross-cultural conflicts.

The participants will learn from senior experts and practitioners in the field, and university professors, and the activities are devised to be highly interactive through discussions, Q&A sessions, group work, role-play and hands-on exercises and assignments.

The courses will be conducted virtually via the Zoom software.

29 November – 3 December 2021                  Course Fee: 1,200 EUR (1,500 USD)

PLATFORM:              LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

Course Information:

Senior Mentors

           
Ambassador Miloš Strugar
UN Senior Mediation Adviser, Director Conflux Center

Professor Sun Jisheng PhD
Vice-President China Foreign Affairs University

Professor Milena Dragićević-Šešić PhD
Professor emerita of University of Arts in Belgrade, UNESCO Chair

                  

Chief Instructors / Coordinators

           
Professor Ljiljana Rogač Mijatović PhD
University of Arts Belgrade

Professor Ran Jijun PhD
Dean of the Department of English and International Studies
China Foreign Affairs University

SPEAKERS:

           
Miriam Coronel-Ferrer
Professor, Department of Political Science, University of the Philippines, Senior Mediation Adviser
           
Ambassador Cynthia P. Schneider PHD
Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy, Georgetown University
            
Renata Avila
International Human Rights Lawyer, Co-Founder Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms
 

Course Director

           
Emilija Marić
Conflux Center
 

Project officers:

           
Ružica Radulović
University of Arts Belgrade
Mina Strugar
Conflux Center
He Yuchu
China Foreign Affairs University

Registration:

Culture in Conflict – A Conversation
           

Virtual Live Event
16 November 2021
Location: Zoom

Resolution of Cross-Cultural Conflict
through Negotiation, Facilitation and Mediation


Virtual Course
How to Manage the Cultural Dimension in Conflict Resolution
29 November – 3 December
Location: Zoom

Contact

ORGANIZED BY:


Conflux Center for Intercultural Dialogue and Mediation
China Foreign Affairs University
University of Arts in Belgrade

ENQUIRIES:


info@cultureinmediation.org

+381 (0) 63 130 89 97
+86 189 800 210 19
+86 010 683 238 97

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