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ICAR Becomes a School: Reflections on the past and looking to the future In December, 2010, the University Board of Visitors, following similar action by the Faculty Senate and with the support of President Merten and Provost Stearns, voted to change the name of ICAR from Institute to School. In one sense, this marked the end of a decades-long journey of ICAR’s growth and development. |
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History and Conflict Conference: ICAR collaborates with George Eckert Institute and USIPBetween December 2-4 2010, ICAR’s Program on History Memory and Conflict organized a conference entitled "History Education in Conflict and Transitional Societies." The conference was sponsored by the Frederick Ebert Foundation and co-hosted with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). The conference brought together twenty scholars from the U.S. and Europe to discuss the role of history education in post-conflict and divided societies. In the introduction to the conference, Pia Bungarten, the representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) to the U.S. and Canada, stressed the importance of history for the understanding of current tendencies in society. Andrea Bartoli, Director of ICAR, pointed out that choices that are made to understand and share history require a level of integrity that is hard to acquire in the midst of violent confrontation of... |
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Theories and Indicators of Change: ICAR hosts workshop to develop peacebuilding evaluation toolsOver the past twelve months Susan Allen Nan has led a collaborative initiative among ICAR faculty, the Academy for Educational Development (AED) and USAID’s Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) office in spearheading the THINC Initiative, “THeories and INdicators of Change Initiative.” THINC was initiated by Tjip Walker at CMM, and supported in part by USAID funding. Most recently, the collaboration culminated with a two day workshop on “Theories and Indicators of Change” that took place at Point of View in Lorton, VA on October 25-26, 2010. ICAR's involvement with the THINC initiative began with hosting a workshop in December 2009. During the initial workshop, leading... |
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Remembering John Burton: ICAR celebrates the life and work of a dear friendAt the beginning of December ICAR held the first of two events planned to commemorate the passing of Dr. John Burton in Canberra last summer. John Burton was Associate Director of what was then the Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution between 1985 and 1991. After which he “retired” to his native Australia with his wife Betty Nathan (who was present for the commemoration) to run yet another farm, which he always did in what he called his “spare” time. John was a part of ICAR when it launched its doctoral program in 1988, accepting only ten students in the first year. He was instrumental in shaping that program and helping to expand the Master’s program, which in those days numbered between... |
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"The Director Made Us Do It": How skydiving bonded Spring 2010 ICAR M.S. students“Conflict is a universal experience. Skydiving is not.” This was one of the first lessons taught to Dr. Batroli’s spring CONF 501 class. Dr. Bartoli wanted us to appreciate that whether it is interpersonal, intergroup or even international, all of us, on some level, had experienced conflict. Regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, upbringing or religion, every human being in this world has experienced some level of conflict. Sky diving, on the other hand, is experienced by few; the foolish and the brave. And, if it weren’t for one student muttering to another, we probably would have left it there. However, on a matter of impulse, one student muttered to another: “But, I have been skydiving!” A statement that was met with quiet agreement: “So have I!” That one exchange of words inspired our 501 class.... |
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Alma Jadallah, ICAR Ph.D. Alumna and Adjunct ProfessorThreaded through her work and scholarship is a commitment to reflective practice and a keen sensitivity to the dynamics of conflict within complex systems. She is well attuned to how culture influences the expression and transformation of conflict and in her consultations and teaching helps others navigate the challenging interfaces between diverse cultures, from worldview to organizational roles, from gender to geography. Her service to the larger field of conflict resolution is broad and deep, and her practice reaches communities both here and abroad. Dr Alma Abdul-Hadi Jadallah is the President and Managing Director of Kommon Denominator, Inc., providing consultations and technical expertise for organizational... |
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Ibrahim Al-Hajjri, ICAR M.S. StudentWhile this fall’s Master’s cohort brought in fascinating individuals from all around the globe, rising second semester MS student Ibrahim Al-Hajjri possesses a particularly interesting story concerning his path to ICAR. Although born in Yemen, Ibrahim was raised “in scattered areas all around the world.” Describing a constant “interest in the dynamics of violent conflicts,” he initially pursued a military education, graduating from Zayed II Military College in the United Arab Emirates. After working as a military officer, Ibrahim decided that he was in need of an even greater understanding of violence, and decided to enroll at the Naval Postgraduate School in... |