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The object of this study is to present a comparative analysis of the system of problem-solving workshops and associated conflict resolution techniques exemplified in the work of John W Burton and Leonard Doob and their associates. The approach has been to structure the research as a methodological critique of the Burton and Doob models, with special consideration given to their respective domain assumptions, internal logic, methodology, process and prescriptive dimensions. Informed by the assumption of the universality of conflict, the study begins by examining the particular strengths and weaknesses associated with Burton and Doob's work. The approach is descriptive-analytical and sets out to isolate, identify and describe the salient features of the problem-solving approach followed by the two authors. Specific case studies used by them have been subjected to critical analysis. The basic notion of problem-solving and its relevance to conflict analysis and resolution is also explored in some detail. In arriving at a conclusion, the study suggests that problem-solving workshops have specific strengths, notably in the area of conflict analysis as well as in influencing individual perceptions and competing value positions. Certain shortcomings in the theoretical and practical utility of this approach, however, could be overcome, in the author's opinion, by giving attention to the area of third party intervention, notably in assessing the variables affecting the process, such as the time sequence, the structure of the discussion format, and the application of specific techniques. In the final analysis, it is agreed that these problem-solving workshops can serve as a useful analytical tool in contemplating the dynamic of conflict relationships and behaviour. Their theoretical and practical utility, but remain inherently limited unless they are integrated with a broader body of literature on bargaining and third party intervention. The study concludes with the observation that despite an extensive and growing body of literature on conflict, the practice of third party intervention - especially within the workshop setting - has only recently been studied in depth. It is in this respect that this study hopes to be of some practical value especially in the case of a deeply divided society such as South Africa.

The thesis examines the role of big data in resolving modern conflicts. The study combines the concept of big data with conflict resolution theory and then applies them to three directions of conflict resolution: non-violent, violent, and conflict prevention. Each of the three groups is accompanied by a case study. This method allows a detailed understanding of various aspects related to the resolution of current conflicts using technology and big data analytics. The thesis examines empirical data associated with many innovative projects that have been implemented or are in the process of development for the resolution of ongoing conflicts - UN projects focused on big data collection, technology projects developed by the US state research centers, databases of large amounts of data related to conflicts. Based on the acquired knowledge, this work explores the big data analysis for conflict resolution, its forms, advantages, disadvantages and limitations. Big data perspectives on the resolution of modern conflicts, based on empirical analysis, are summarized in three groups: operational (real-time data collection and processing), tactical (real-time decision-making based on big data analysis outcomes), and strategic (data-driven strategic advantage). The thesis concludes that the main advantage of...

The definitive flexibility, informality, and diversity of use make alternative dispute resolution (ADR) a unique field that deserves the time and effort it will take to determine best practice for establishing it as a true profession. That being said, before we begin the battle for legitimization we must not forget the heart and soul of the field, its practitioners. In the face of the unsure status of ADR as a field, there are many barriers currently affecting potential practitioners of ADR preventing the success of both these new members and the field itself.

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No / One of the features of the post-Cold War era has been a remarkable growth in academic and policy attention devoted to the role played by economic actors and economic agendas in the inception and perpetuation of civil conflicts as well as in shaping the prospects for postconflict peacebuilding. This has incorporated a large and diverse range of themes ranging from the trading of specific conflict goods, the conflict dynamics resulting from the interaction of greed, feasibility, and grievance factors at the local level, the broader economic and governance challenges arising from what has been labelled the ‘resource curse’, and the even broader challenges produced by the interaction of local, regional, and global economic structures.

Numerous research studies have documented the benefits of a conflict mediation program as one component of a school-based violence prevention program. The major purpose of this study was to determine the possible effects of participation in a conflict mediation training program and serving as a peer mediator on the attitude a student has toward conflict and the interpersonal problem-solving strategies employed by a student. Secondly, this study sought to determine if students trained in conflict mediation skills assimilate the skills into their daily lives by examining attitudes and behaviors of students when faced with conflict outside the school environment. The population in this study were 40 students enrolled in three grade levels in a middle school located in a suburban southwestern Virginia county . These students were named as possible mediators by the school faculty during the 1995-96 school term. The independent variable in this study was training in conflict mediation skills. The dependent variables were attitude toward conflict as measured by the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument and interpersonal problem-solving skills as measured by the Alternative Solutions Test. Parents and teachers of all participants documented observed behavior by completing the problem scales of the Child Behavior Checklist and the Teacher's Response Form. Qualitative data were collected through the use of a focus group. Measures of central tendency and standard deviations were calculated for the experimental and control groups for each dependent variable tested. Analysis of variance and t-tests were conducted to determine if significant effects were present following the treatment. All test results were analyzed at the p< .05 level. Based on the data analysis, it was concluded that students trained in conflict mediation chose to utilize collaboration and compromise when faced with situations of conflict whenever possible. The students receiving no training chose avoiding or accommodating most frequently. In addition, it was concluded that training affected the problem-solving skills of students by empowering them and encouraging the development of confidence in their abilities to solve problems. Students trained in conflict mediation generated a significantly greater number of solutions to problems presented than did the untrained students. / Ed. D.

The study aims to discover the strategies and techniques used by community mediators in the People's Republic of China. Previous research argues that mediator legitimacy in China draws on state authorization and the mediator's community standing. In contrast to Western conceptions of the mediator's role as a neutral facilitator of dispute resolution, research suggests that Chinese mediators openly speak on behalf of community norms, calling on disputants to subordinate personal preferences in the interest of maintaining harmonious relationships and governmental policies and legal regulations. The legitimacy of the mediation process depends more on a persuasive articulation of community norms than an impression of mediator neutrality. However, this account of Chinese mediation has been based solely on interview and questionnaire data. How (and whether) this contrast between self-report measures and mediation techniques in practice actually manifests itself in mediator discourse, at what stages, and to what degree has not really been observed or analyzed. This study records and analyzes community mediation cases to better understand what features are prevalent in mediation discourse. Cases were selected in both rural and urban areas. Discourse analysis is applied to transcripts so as to provide direct and detailed picture of how mediation is conducted in reality. Strategies typical of Chinese mediation, relative to American mediation are identified and illustrated with excerpts from the transcripts. Neutrality and power distribution are discussed and compared with their roles in American mediation. Their implications for political, social and cultural aspects are drawn to provide a glimpse of contemporary Chinese society and how resolution is created. Future research directions are pointed out with regard to mediator's gender difference, the location where the mediation happens (urban and rural) and the socio-economic class of disputants (e.g., migrant workers) involved in the mediation.