NCJ Number
198380
Journal
Negotiation Journal Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2002 Pages: 345-350
Editor(s)
Michael Wheeler
Date Published
October 2002
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the emphasis on the short-term fix or solution, by court-connected mediation and hostage negotiation and suggests attention to the underlying issues bears further examination by practitioners and researchers.
Abstract
This article discusses the nature of conflict which seems to require immediate response to temper a crisis. When third party negotiators are involved, this tendency to a quick fix is amplified and maintaining the status quo is what occurs, perhaps inadvertently, when what is needed is greater understanding and communication between disputants, improved relationships, and a new form of social justice and harmony. It is suggested that all schools, both elementary and secondary, and law schools, business schools, medical schools, and schools of education need to go beyond teaching short-term conflict resolution skills and include the teaching of inclusion, respect, and a commitment to social justice activism in the school and community. It is recommended that researchers undertake evaluation research comparing the effects of schools and curricula that combine social justice and conflict resolution with those that provide more limited curricula. On the international level it is noted that work in international conflict resolution needs to be combined with democratization and economic development programs abroad, and those programs need to be respectful of cultural differences.