ABSTRACT
The Chinese character for active listening has embedded in it pictures not only of the ear, but also of the eye, and most importantly the heart. Sometimes Chinese characters provide finer tools for representing the core notions of conflict resolution than do English. In this case, the calligraphy adds layers of richness to our understanding of the concept of listening. It might be expected, then, that conflict resolution might slide comfortably into the culture and the university curriculum. However, China has also a long history of patriarchy and an emphasis on power relations which sits uncomfortably with those assumptions of equality that underlie Western techniques for resolving conflict. Further, the interactive pedagogies that are essential for bringing together the theory and practice of conflict resolution could be viewed by university authorities as disrespectful and undermining of authority. In this chapter we describe our experience of establishing a conflict resolution programme in the Zhou En Lai School of Government at Nankai University and outline some of the challenges and opportunities it presents. We seek to show how the course, which is grounded in core material derived from Western theory, has taken a distinctly Chinese path. Through listening to each other deeply we, our students and the university authorities, have shaped an approach which is grounded in a blend of cultures rather than an imposition of one culture over the other.
