Communication And Conflict Transformation Through Local Regional And Global Engagement

Central to a transformational approach to conflict is the idea that conflicts must be viewed as embedded within broader relational patterns, and social and discursive structures—and must be addressed as such. This implies the need for systemic change at generative levels, in order to create genuine transformation at the level of particular conflicts. Central, also, to this book is the idea that the origins of transformation can be momentary, or situational, small-scale or micro-level, as well as bigger and more systemic or macro-level. Micro-level changes involve shifts and meaningful changes in communication and related patterns that are created in communication between people. Such transformative changes can radiate out into more systemic levels, and systemic transformative changes can radiate inwards to more micro- levels. This book engages this transformative framework. Within this framework, this book pulls together current work that epitomizes, and highlights, the contribution of communication scholarship, and communication centered approaches to conflict transformation, in local/community, regional, environmental and global conflicts in various parts of the world. The resulting volume presents an engaging mix of scholarly chapters, think pieces, and experiences from the field of practice. The book embraces a wide variety of theoretical and methodological approaches, as well as transformative techniques and processes, including: narrative, dialogic, critical, cultural, linguistic, conversation analytic, discourse analytic, and rhetorical. This book makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing dialogue across and between disciplines and people on how to transform conflicts creatively, sustainably, and ethically.

Globalization and the resulting internationalization of universities is driving change in teaching, learning, and what it means to be educated. This book provides exemplars of how the Communication discipline and curriculum are responding to the demands of globalization and contributing to the internationalization of higher education. Communication as a discipline provides a strong theoretical and methodological framework for exploring the benefits, challenges and meanings of globalization. The goal of this book, therefore, is to facilitate internationalization of the communication discipline in an era of globalization. Section one discusses the theoretical perspectives of globalism, internationalization, and the current state of the Communication discipline and curriculum. Section two offers a comprehensive understanding of the role, ways, and impact of internationalizing teaching, learning, and research in diverse areas of study in Communication, including travel programs and initiatives to bring internationalization to the classroom. The pieces in this section will include research-based articles, case studies, analytical reviews that exam key questions about the field, and themed pieces for dialogue/debate on current and future teaching and learning issues related to internationalizing the Communication discipline/curriculum. Section three provides an extensive sampling of materials and resources for immediate use in internationalization in communication studies; sample syllabi, activities, examples, and readings will be included. In sum, our book is designed to enable communication curriculum and communication courses in other disciplines to be internationalized and to offer different approaches to enable faculty, students, and administrators to incorporate and experience an internationalized curriculum regardless of time and financial limitations. This book is notable as a professional development resource for individuals both inside and outside the communication discipline who wish to incorporate a global perspective into their research and classrooms.

America may not be at war, but it is not at peace. Recent public and political rhetoric have revealed the escalation of a pervasive and dangerous “us versus them” ideology in the United States. This powerful book is motivated by the contributors’ recognition of continuing structural violence and injustice, which are linked to long-standing systems of racism, social marginalization, xenophobia, poverty, and inequality in all forms. Calls to restore America’s greatness are just the most recent iteration of dehumanizing language against minority communities. The violation of the civil and human rights of vulnerable groups presents a serious threat to American democracy. These deeply rooted and systemic inequities have no easy solutions, and the destructive nature of today’s conflicts in America threaten to impede efforts to build peace, promote justice, and inspire constructive social change. Acknowledging the complexity of building peace in the United States, this volume represents the first step in envisioning a more just, peaceful country—from the grassroots to the highest levels of leadership. The editors have brought together a diverse group of scholars, conflict resolution practitioners, civil society leaders, community peacebuilders, and faith leaders who are committed to pro-social change. Collectively, they examine how best to understand the current issues, deescalate destructive public rhetoric, undermine the “us versus them” polarity, and support those currently working for positive change. Together, the contributors share experiences and perspectives on the past, present, and future of peacebuilding; develop a vision for how we can collectively respond in our communities, campuses, and congregations; and catalyze action during this pivotal moment in America.

This book is aimed at both professionals and students who desire to deepen their understanding of the processes involved in conflict intervention and resolution effectively.

This handbook provides a comprehensive review of research in conflict and peace communication and offers readers a range of insights into foundational, ongoing, and emerging discussions in this field. The volume brings together peace studies, conflict studies, and communication studies to acknowledge the power of communication—both cooperative, solidarizing, and integrative as well as destructive and divisive—in constituting social relations. It features a multiplicity of authors, including academics and practitioners from all corners of the globe and from across the communicative spectrum. The handbook is divided into four parts: (1) Meta-theoretical, theoretical, and methodological approaches in conflict and peace communication research; (2) Conflict communication; (3) Peace communication; and (4) Cross-cutting and emergent themes. This handbook is essential reading for scholars, research-driven practitioners, graduate-level students, and upper-level undergraduate students in conflict and peace communication within disciplines such as communication studies, political science, international relations, security studies, and human rights.

For over a decade, Jeremy Rinker, Ph.D. has interacted, observed, and studied Dalit anti-caste social movements in India. In this critical comparative approach to India’s modern anti-caste resistance, Dr. Rinker emphasizes the complex interdependence between narrative practices and social transformation in understanding the centuries old caste basis of India’s most fundamental of social conflicts. Through the comparative case study of three modern social movement organizations, this book provides a fresh lens to both better understand and potentially transform caste marginalization and oppression. Through theoretical analysis, auto-ethnographic field notes, and narrative storytelling, Dr. Rinker brings the lived experience of modern Dalits to life for a Western reader unfamiliar with the entrenched nature of India’s complex caste dynamics. The book is also written for anti-caste activists in that it endeavors to develop reflective practice insights into activists’ own sense and use of narrative agency. A timely reappraisal of Indian anti-caste movement infighting and ideological discord, this book will be of interest to both students of South Asian caste and those that want to better understand injustice narration as an important means of structural change. With sharp analysis and insight Identity, Rights, and Awareness: Anticaste Activism in India and the Awakening of Justice through Discursive Practices will be of interest to scholars of South Asian studies as well as activists working for conflict transformation and peace.

Demonstrates how micro-interaction between people shapes larger patterns of peace and conflict. This book features chapters on the methods of micro-sociology (including Video Data Analysis) as well as analytical chapters on violence, nonviolence, conflict transformation, peace talks and international meetings. This title is Open Access.

Media plays a specific role within modern society. It has been and continues to be a tool for spreading terrorist messages. However, it can just as easily be used as a tool for countering terrorism. During these challenging times where both international and domestic terrorism continue to threaten the livelihoods of citizens, it is imperative that studies are undertaken to examine the media’s role in the spread of terrorism, as well as to explore strategies and protocols that can be put in place to mitigate the spread. Media and Terrorism in the 21st Century presents the emerging ideas and insights from experts, academicians, and professionals on the role media and new media plays in terrorist propaganda from a critical international perspective. It examines the historical relation between media and terror and analyzes the difficulties and obstacles presented by the relation in the 21st century. Covering topics such as AI-based dataveillance, media development trends, and virtual terrorism, this book is an indispensable resource for government officials, communications experts, politicians, security professionals, sociologists, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

The need for intercultural communication and understanding has never been greater. The unstoppable confluence of technology continues to unsympathetically disrupt, distort, and exert consequential changes to nation states and to the breadth, depth, and scope of sociocultural institutions. Such changes have foregrounded the need to understand and relate to the diverse ethical underpinnings that account for distinctive cultural norms where global or universal collaborations are desired. Success in the convergence of cultures in a globalized world would be impossible in the absence of a standardized terms of reference, which guarantees international understanding and facilitates peace and progress the world over. Examining Ethics and Intercultural Interactions in International Relations is an integral scholarly publication that facilitates international collaboration through intercultural communication and exchange of data, ideas, and information on a broad range of topics, including ethics in academics, business, medicine, government, and leadership. The overarching object of this book is the improvement of a peaceful, harmonious, and just world for all its inhabitants, such that further progress in all endeavors is assured. Highlighting a wide range of topics such as business ethics, early childhood education, and sociology, this book is essential for academicians, policymakers, professionals, educational administrators, researchers, and students, as well as those working in fields where ethics and human relationships are required such as education, public and private administration or management, medicine, sociology, and religion.

This captivating book presents innovative answers to the question: why storytelling? Each chapter represents leading edge narrative research designs from Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace and Justice in central Canada, one of the world’s leading academic programs for Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), and a major contributor to PACS scholarship. The authors are candid and offer inspiration for other scholars seeking groundbreaking ideas for their own research design while offering profound expansions to the current PACS literature. The scholarship reflects a diversity of ideas, passions, approaches, disciplinary roots, and topic areas. Each chapter explores different and critical issues in the field of PACS through various forms of storytelling, while providing recent original research designs for the future development of the field and the education of its practitioners and academics. This volume, co-edited by three of the early graduates of the program, presents and explores a number of these issues across the broad spectrum of Peace and Conflict Studies. Contributors to the book are recognized scholars and practitioners in their respective fields. The book has a wide audience, targeting those particularly interested in tackling and understanding old conflicts in new ways, and for those seeking to learn at the growing edges of PACS, at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels.