ICAR Working Group Explores African Ethnoscape at POV Talk

On September 27th, 2008, the scenic and serene Point of View center (POV) at Mason Neck was characterized by a buzz of human activity coming from the Virginia and Washington D.C. metro area. This was a gathering of intellectuals and practitioners from Africa and other nationals, who have the development of Africa at heart, who gathered to deliberate and brainstorm ways to erase the myth that Africa is a dark continent.

Members of the Africa Working Group (AWG) at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (ICAR) and interested stakeholders came together at POV for the first ever joint retreat and seminar. The working group is an organization comprised of students, faculty, alumni and practitioners who are interested in Africa. The event provided the opportunity for participants to reinvigorate debate on and celebrate conflict resolution initiatives in Africa. In his opening remarks for the POV event, ICAR professor and group advisor Dr. Wallace Warfield reiterated the importance of the group in steering ICAR's and other stakeholders' interest towards Africa as a region and subject of focus in policy, development and conflict resolution.

Point of View was the ideal location for an event of this caliber. The full day event allowed for some critical discussion, reflection, networking and imaging of the future. In line with George Mason's theme of building community, the event provided the opportunity for AWG members and non-members to spend some quality time together, engaging in serious discussion on critical issues but also concretizing future plans for the academic year.

The presentations focused on conflict resolution initiatives in Somalia, Liberia, Ghana and Sudan, acknowledging the role of the local leaders and traditional cultural systems in conflict resolution. All presenters applauded the notion that African institutions are occupying the epicenter of these processes and that Africa is rich in human and social capital, which can be effectively combined with the modern approaches to produce sustainable outcomes.

Participants also acknowledged the challenges of indigenous conflict resolution systems. In concluding the event, participants discussed future initiatives and stressed the need to continue building networks with like-minded organizations and practitioners. This will not only bridge the gap between theory and practice, but will also ensure that practitioners demystify stereotypical issues often raised about the continent.

The novel aspect about the event at POV is that it was characterized by a big representation of non-ICAR students, which helped build connections between ICAR, other Mason departments, and communities located off campus.

In closing, Shannon Howard, a Mason Public Policy M.S. student who is also a member of AWG, gave a vote of thanks, appreciating the role of the AWG in reaching out to other departments and off-campus communities so that they too would experience what the ICAR family was learning.