CONF 735: GLOBAL CONTEXT OF CONFLICT

Professor Ho-Won Jeong
George Mason University
Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
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Political boundaries

Up to now, we covered global dimensions of conflict, affected by economic and environmental changes. Conflict is part of the process involving different forces, groups and interests. The nature of conflict is of course shaped by the way technology, economic policies and responses of various groups to challenges brought about by social and economic transformation which have an impact on relations at communal and inter-group and inter-national levels.

For the remaining weeks, we will examine issues of identities, security and ethnic boundaries and nationalism and their implications for conflict. In a more interconnected world, the formation and transformation of identities is influenced by how groups or nations perceive political and social boundaries. We can also look at how the margins can be created in the process of power distribution, emphasis on particular values.

There are four articles assigned for this week. Friedman's book chapter covers cultural politics in the context of traditional, modern and postmodern values. Amin's book chapter deals with the impact of macro economic forces on positions of groups and the role of social movements in the periphery. Jorgenson's paper focuses on communal power relations and the role of conflict resolution. Wilmer's article discusses how indigenous populations can struggle in the larger context of international norms. If you are interested in this topic, you can check the class web site (a lot of information is put on there). At the same time, you can also refer to the Third World Social Forum (which I mentioned along with grassroots challenges to globalization).