The Mission of International Negotiation Initiative is
To enhance international security
and individual well-being
through theory-building and education
on the emotional dimension
of conflict and negotiation.
INI's mission is based upon three observations about international security:
1. Conflict can threaten international security and individual well-being. Conflict between individuals, communities, or nations can have a local and global impact.
* Locally, a conflict can damage infrastructure, destabilize institutions, and inflict trauma. In the past 15 years alone, ethnopolitical conflict has claimed the lives of millions of men, women, and children. Civilian casualties have skyrocketed, and infrastructures and institutions have collapsed. Furthermore, over 20 million people -- in at least 150 countries - have become refugees or "internally displaced persons." In addition to these physical effects, conflict has resulted in psychological damage. A large number of individuals have been affected by severe and persistent mental illness, post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse. Many stressed parents have become less effective caregivers for their children, some who now have conduct problems, poor emotional tolerance, and developmental difficulties.
Although these symptoms are problematic in themselves,
they are exponentially more problematic because of their potential global
reach.
* Globally, a conflict can spread through the flow of ideas, people,
goods, and disease. The consequences of a local conflict are no longer
restricted to the area in which the conflict emerged. Sociopolitical
instability can turn a country into a breeding ground for terrorism,
which, as September 11th demonstrated, can have a far-reaching effect.
Moreover, violent conflict creates global health issues. A single refugee
may flee his or her country with an infectious disease in incubation.
"The incubation period for most infectious diseases is longer than
most international air flights," notes Kofi Annan in the Economist.
"As a result, any one of the 700 million people who travel on airlines
in a year could unwittingly carry a lethal virus to an unsuspecting
country."
2. Emotions are a major cause of conflict. The most naïve observer of a conflict easily can detect anger and other obvious emotions affecting parties in conflict. Systematic analysis of conflict, however, reveals a much more complex emotional landscape, where the behavior of parties is affected by their perceived history, identity, fears, and needs. For example:
*
In a high-stakes negotiation, unmet emotional needs can damage important
relationships and lead to destructive behavior.
*
"In a large-scale conflict, the resurrection of historical humiliation,
shame, or resentment can incite violence and jeopardize the rule of
law, civil society and social stability.
3. Theory and education are urgently needed to help parties in conflict deal constructively with emotions. Theory and education on negotiation has focused predominantly on the rational dimension of human behavior. This is important, but only half the story. Understanding the nature of emotions and how to transform them is critical in managing a conflict in a systematic, constructive way.
1 Daniel Christie (From
Ohio State University), “What is Peace Psychology the Psychology
of?” Working Paper.
2 Garfield & Neugut (1997) report an estimated 90% civilian casualty
rate due to armed conflict in the latter half of the 20th century [“The
human consequences of war.” In B.S. Levy & B.W. Sidel (eds),
War and Public Health (p. 27-38). New York: Oxford University Press.]
3 This is noted by Sadako Ogata, co-chair of the United Nations Commission
on Human Security
4 Kofi Annan in The Economist, Dec 4th-10th, 2004, p. 23.