Work shop on Early Warning System

REGIONAL WORKSHOP

THEME: CONFLICT RESOLUTION RESEARCH
VENUE: EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM, LEJ, NATIONAL SCIENCE INFORMATION CENTER, OPPOSITE THIRD WORLD CENTER OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, HEJ RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF CHEMISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI

NOVEMBER 10-11, 2009

PROGRAM ON PEACE STUDIES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
UNIVERSITY OF KARACHI IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
HANNS SEIDEL FOUNDATION, ISLAMABAD

CONCEPT PAPER

BACKGROUND

The linkage between conflict resolution (CR) and research is an established fact in the context of conducting path-breaking studies which could help for the management and resolution of conflicts at various levels. Societies, where there are traditions and environment for a meaningful research to deal and resolve various unresolved issues, it has been possible to bring a qualitative change in society. The unleashing of a research process to seek a better understanding of conflict, its origins, types and dynamics is itself a major requirement to ensure peace and stability in this conflict and crisis-ridden world.
The theme of research and conflict resolution has four important dimensions. First, the type of investigative research which can done to seek a better management and resolution of conflicts, whether at the inter or intra-state level. Second, the creation of a critical mass of people who can benefit from purposeful research on various conflicts and try to play their role for peace building. Third, the relevance and importance of field research in a conflict zone for conducting a path breaking study of a particular conflict. Finally, the requirements in conflict resolution research with particular reference to expertise, capacity building, resources and dissemination which can ensure the proper utilization of efforts and skills made in the process of research.

Conflict resolution research is relatively a new field of study if the scientific and technological factors are also taken into account. With the advancement, modernization and growth taking place in different societies of the world, the nature of conflict also underwent a qualitative change. The enormous destruction caused by armed conflicts whether at the inter or intra-state level created wide scope for conducting purposeful, meaningful and investigative research for saving mankind from the sustenance of violent conflicts. But, conflict resolution research, as a field of study has not taken off in many countries of the world because of hostile environment for research, authoritarian political culture, lack of professionalism and meager resources. In societies where expertise, leadership, environment and resources exist, the process of conflict resolution research yields positive results.

It is in this perspective that a two-day regional workshop on "Conflict Resolution Research" has been planned at the International Relations Department, University of Karachi in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad on November 09-11, 2009.

South Asia, which is called as a 'hub' of conflict provides enormous scope for studying the linkage between research and conflict resolution. Since the decolonization of South Asia in 1947-48 till today one can examine the perpetuation of various conflicts which in the last seven decades of so have caused immense material and physical destruction. When around one-third of the world's poor live in South Asia and the region is still a victim of conflicts of different types, it is unfortunate to note that the role of research to help the process of conflict management and resolution is quite limited. Lack of proper research institutes, think tanks, the absence of the culture of research and reasoning tend to impede investigative research on the study of conflicts and their peaceful resolution.

Following themes will be discussed and examined in the workshop:-

Theory and Practice of Conflict Resolution Research
Models of Conflict Resolution Research: Ethnic, Religious, Resource-based conflicts
Scope and Importance of CR research in Pakistan
Scope and Importance of CR research in India
Scope and Importance of CR research in Bangladesh
Scope and Importance of CR research in Sri Lanka
Scope and Importance of CR research in Nepal
Scope and Importance of CR research in Nepal
Learning from CR research process

Some of the questions which will be examined in detail as far as the main themes of the workshop are as follows:-

What is conflict resolution research and how it evolved?
What are the conceptual and theoretical dimensions of conflict resolution research?
What are the impediments in CR research and how such impediments could be removed?
What is the scope of CR research in different South Asian countries?
How the South Asian countries can manage and resolve their conflict by unleashing a research process?
What lessons can be learned from CR research process particularly in the developed world?

It is high time that a purposeful discourse in South Asia on the importance of research for the management and resolution of conflict takes place. The holding of a two-day regional workshop will help examine in detail how research can make a difference in terms of a proper understanding of conflict in South Asia and how a better environment in the region can be created for purposeful research on the nature, dynamics possibilities for the management and resolution of conflict.

Following are the objectives of the workshop:-

To examine in detail the linkage between research and the process of conflict resolution
To create proper awareness and interest particularly among the young participants of the workshop about the importance of conflict resolution research
To examine the obstacles which exist in South Asia as far as proper research environment is concerned and how such a hindrance prevents pursuing research on conflict and conflict resolution
To disseminate the findings of the workshop in the form of a book.

PPSCR

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