Graduation Date
1998
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Elizabeth Watson
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Samuel Oliner
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Susan Carpenter
Fourth Committee Member Name
Dr. Ronald A. Fritzsche
Keywords
Sociology
Subject Categories
Sociology
Abstract
At a time when the future of Central and Eastern Europe stands tenuously between a history of authoritarian regimes and contemporary endeavors to establish political stability through democracy, it is important to investigate those social structures which hold the potential to strengthen the democratic participation and self- determinism of the population. Through an analysis of the mission and practice of dispute resolution organizations described in case studies, conference presentations, annual reports, newsletters, and web pages, the research shows how the development of mediating norms and institutions support a wide variety of goals including strengthening democratic participation, stimulating systemic changes for peaceful conflict management, and for strengthening relationships between community members from differing identity groups. This dialogue-based approach to conflict is very different from conflict resolution patterns established under state-socialist and authoritarian systems. It is imperative that the premises of the various dispute resolvers and trainers be examined in order that a clear and ethical vision for the future of these societies is shared. From the outset of the trust-building process, local capacity-building is the focus of many programs in the region. The extent to which local capacities are established and how this is evaluated is explored through the context of transformative mediation theories developed by practitioners, sociologists and political scientists.
Recommended Citation
Shochat, Lisa Marie, "The Dilemmas of Conflict Resolution in Central and Eastern Europe" (1998). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2374.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2374