ABSTRACT
This volume's central purpose is to provide a clearly written, scholarly exploration of cultural variation regarding conflict resolution and in so doing, highlight certain alternatives to violence. It presents an interdisciplinary examination of how conflicts are perceived and handled in a variety of cultural settings. Drawing on data and models from anthropology, psychology, and political science, the chapters analyze conflict resolution across the societal spectrum, including cases from Western and non-Western traditions, complex and tribal societies, and violent and non-violent cultures. While demonstrating the extremely important impact of culture on conflict resolution processes, the book does not solely emphasize cultural specificity. Rather--through introductory chapters, section introductions, and a concluding chapter--the volume editors draw attention to cross-cultural patterns in an attempt to further the search for more general conflict principles.
An explicit message throughout the book is that alternatives to violence exist. The volume demonstrates that at various levels--from the interpersonal to the international-- conflicts can be handled in ways that cause far less pain and destruction than violence. Chapters by psychologists discuss social and cognitive processes for facilitating the learning of alternatives to violence among children and youth. Anthropology contributors explore mechanisms for dealing with social conflict which allow some cultures to remain relatively peaceful and consider implications of their work for reducing violence in other societies. Chapters by former President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, and by political scientists examine how non-violent political solutions can be employed as alternatives to warfare and violent resistence.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|36 pages
Introduction and Theoretical Considerations
chapter I 3|12 pages
The Inevitability of Conflict But Not of Violence
part II|51 pages
Cultural Influences and Conflict Resolution
chapter II 6|10 pages
Conflict Avoidance and Resolution Among the Toraja of South Sulawesi, Indonesia
chapter II 8|9 pages
Leaving Anger Outside the Kava Circle
part III|56 pages
The Challenge of Resolving Ethnic Conflict
chapter III 11|8 pages
Historiography and Islamic Vocabulary in War and Peace
chapter III 13|8 pages
Beyond the Competition of Tears
part IV|38 pages
Conflict Resolution as an Alternative to War
chapter IV 15|13 pages
Cooperation in Conflict
part V|49 pages
Socialization for Conflict Resolution
chapter V 17|13 pages
Sex Differences in Styles of Conflict Resolution
part 6|22 pages
Conclusions