Grasping the Nettle: Analyzing Cases of Intractable ConflictAmong the unwelcome legacies of the past century are a group of conflicts, both intrastate and interstate, that seem destined never to end. From Kashmir to Nagorno-Karabakh, Colombia to Sudan, the Korean Peninsula to the Middle East, these deeply entrenched, intermittently violent conflicts have so far resisted all outside efforts to resolve them.What lessons aside from the apparent futility of mediation can such dismal situations possibly offer? As the distinguished contributors to "Grasping the Nettle" make plain, this is not a rhetorical question. Unyielding conflicts offer numerous insights not only about the sources of intractability but also about such facets of mediation and conflict management as how to gain leverage, when to engage and disengage, how to balance competing goals, and who to enlist to play supporting roles.The first part of this eye-opening volume identifies and analyzes the defining characteristics and underlying dynamics of intractable conflicts. The second part turns the spotlight on no fewer than eight current cases, in each instance chronicling the conflict's evolution, evaluating the internal and external factors that have conspired to prevent a settlement, and assessing whether past peacemaking initiatives have in fact only aggravated the conflict. The conclusion makes the point that even intractable conflicts eventually end and highlights the strategic approaches and tactical steps that have yielded success in the past for mediators and conflict managers from governments, international organizations, and NGOs." |
Other editions - View all
Grasping the Nettle: Analyzing Cases of Intractable Conflict Chester A. Crocker No preview available - 2005 |
Grasping the Nettle: Analyzing Cases of Intractable Conflict Chester A. Crocker,Fen Osler Hampson,Pamela R. Aall No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
Abkhazia adversaries African agreement Angola Arab Azerbaijan become Bicesse Bogotá Bosnia cease-fire civil wars Cold War Colombia conflict management Conflict Resolution countries Croatia Cyprus develop dialogue diplomacy diplomatic dispute economic escalation ethnic factors FARC flict force Georgia groups guerrillas identity IGAD India initiatives Institute of Peace inter-Korean interests intermediaries international community International Conflict intractable conflicts involved Israel Israeli Israeli-Palestinian Israeli-Palestinian conflict issues Karabakh Kashmir Korean peninsula Kosovo Kriesberg leaders leadership major mediation efforts ment Middle East military Moldova negotiations North Korea nuclear official organizations Pakistan Palestinian paramilitaries participants peace process peacemaking percent political President Press problem regional resolve role Russian Savimbi Serbia Serbs settlement side social solution South Ossetia Soviet SPLA stalemate strategy struggle Sudan talks territory third parties third-party intervention tion track-two transformation Transnistria UNITA United Nations United States Institute unofficial intermediation Uribe violence Washington Yugoslav Zartman