Conflict-resolution and peace-building

The contemporary world is marked by conflicts, divisions, and

polarizations, which culminated in recent wars in Ukraine and

Israel. Poland plays a pivotal role in this world-historical moment,

as it is situated in the heart of “Bloodlands” (as described by

Timothy Snyder), an area that has borne the brunt of wars,

genocide, and famine over the past decades and centuries. The

war in Ukraine demonstrated to the world the existential nature of

this land, serving as a witness and battleground for centuries-old

rivalries between Sea and Land, East and West, Asia and Europe,

Russia and Germany.

The paradox is: Despite ongoing conflicts and a pressing need for

peace, there are no peace and conflict studies in Poland. It seems

that we’re too immersed in conflicts to examine them. Moreover,

there’s a divide between scholars and practitioners—activists lack

scholarly background, while scholars lack the drive to get involved.

The contemporary world is marked by conflicts, divisions, and

polarization, notably exemplified by recent wars in Ukraine and

Israel. Poland plays a pivotal role in this world-historical moment,

as it is situated in an area aptly termed the “Bloodlands” (as coined

by Timothy Snyder), a region that has borne the brunt of wars,

genocide, and famine over the past decades and centuries. The

war in Ukraine underscored to the world the existential nature of

this land, serving as a witness and battleground for centuries-old

rivalries between Sea and Land, East and West, Asia and Europe,

Russia and Germany.

The paradox is: Despite ongoing conflicts and a pressing need for

peace, there’s no field of peace and conflict studies in Poland. It

feels like we’re too immersed in conflicts to examine them.

Moreover, there’s a divide between scholars and

practitioners—activists lack scholarly backgrounds, while scholars

lack the drive to get involved. To bridge theory and practice, we

need, as highlighted by Marc Gopin, compassionate reasoning,

which is an essential skill needed for peace-building and conflict-

resolution.

This seminar aims to combine theoretical concepts with practical

conflict-resolution and peace-building strategies. Throughout the

course, we will integrate classical literature with cutting-edge

research. Recognizing that knowledge on peace and conflict is

dispersed across disciplines, our seminar will adopt a thoroughly

interdisciplinary approach.

In pursuit of a new model, we will draw from systems theory,

psychology, group psychoanalysis, organizational studies, therapy,

consulting, philosophy, management, and spirituality. As

understanding that peace-building is fundamentally a lived

practice rooted in tacit and implicit wisdom, our focus will be on

empirical cases. Ultimately, the seminar will provide an

opportunity for experiential learning.

Part of the Integral Development and Solidarity (IDEAS) Lab, this

seminar will be a collaborative effort involving scholars from

George Mason University, Bendectine College, Ukrainian Catholic

University, and Oxford University. It marks the inaugural step in

introducing peace and conflict studies to Poland at a critical

juncture for both the world as well as the discipline. It will be led

by prominent American and Polish scholars in the field: prof. Marc

Gopin, prof. Tory Baucum, and prof. Agata Dziewulska, and

facilitated by prof. Michał Łuczewski.

Gopin, Marc. Healing the Heart of Conflict: Eight Crucial Steps to

Making Peace with Yourself and with Others Revised and Updated.

Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 2016

Gopin, Marc. Compassionate Reasoning: Changing the Mind to

Change the World. Oxford University Press 2022.

Gopin, Marc. Scholar-Peace Practitioner: A Life, “State of Affairs”

2023

Neufeld, Vern Redekop and Thomas Ryba. René Girard and

Creative Reconciliation, Lexington Books, 2014

Dziewulska, Agata. "Theory Versus Practice: Peace Processes in

Bosnia." Peace, Conflict & Development. An interdisciplinary

Journal 2 (2002): 2.

Łuczewski, Michał et al. Solidarity Step by Step. Warsaw. 2015

Łuczewski, Michał, Slavic Political Theology

https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/slavic-political-theology-

juliusz-sowacki-between-bakunin-and-schmitt/

Lederach, John Paul. The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of

Building Peace. Oxford University Press 2010.

“Thou Shalt not be Overcome”. Martin Seligman on Academia,

Leadership, and God in A Conversation with Piotr Czekierda and

Michał Łuczewski, “State Of Affairs” 2023

Seligman, M. E., Railton, P., Baumeister, R. F., & Sripada, C., Homo

prospectus. Oxford University Press 2016

Kennedy, Michael D. Contemplative Studies, Martial Arts and

Solidarity: An Autobiographical Knowledge Cultural Sociology of

Transformational Theory and Practice, “State Of Affairs” 2023

Philpott, Daniel. Just and Unjust Peace: An Ethic of Political

Reconciliation. Oxford University Pres 2015.

Hodge, Joel. Resisiting Violence and Victimisation, Palgrave 2012

Friedman, Edwin H. A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the

Quick Fix. Church Publishing, Inc., 2007.

Girard, René. Battling to the End: Conversations with Benoît

Chantre. MSU Press, 2009.

Rifkind, Gabrielle. A Better Future Can be Built for Gaza, “Prospect”

2023 https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/64056/gaza-

israel-palestine-hamas-war

Rifkind, Gabrielle. How to talk peace while waging war, “Prospect”

2023 https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/60456/how-to-

talk-peace-while-waging-war

Alderdice, There is no military solution in Israel/Gaza

https://lordalderdice.com/2023/10/25/there-is-no-military-

solution-in-israel-gaza/

Alderdice, John. Conflict, Complexity, and Cooperation. “New

England Journal of Public Policy” 33.1 (2021): 9.

Alderdice, John. New insights into the psychology of individuals

and large groups in a world of changing conflicts, “International

Political Science Review” 2023

https://lordalderdice.com/2023/08/06/mind-under-fire/

Alderdice, John. “Leadership, conflict, and cooperation.” In

Terrorism, Violent Radicalisation, and Mental Health, edited by

Kamaldeep Bhui and Dinesh Bhugra, 241–52. Oxford University

Press, 2021.

https://ipaoffthecouch.org/2021/10/31/episode-97-off-the-couch-

and-into-the-political-arena-with-john-lord-alderdice-frcpsych/

Rifkind, Gabrielle, and Nita Yawanarajah. Preparing the

psychological space for peacemaking, “New England Journal of

Public Policy” 31.1 (2019): 7.

Merali, Yasmin. Complex Adaptive Systems in a Contentious World,

“New England Journal of Public Policy” 34.2 (2022): 3.

Carmichael, Liz. Friendship and Dialogue, “Journal of World

Christianity” 7.1 (2017): 28-46.

K_W01 Knows and understands basic concepts of various sub-

domains of sociology (e.g. law, ritual, liturgy, peace, war, love,

beauty)

K_W03 Is aware of ongoing theoretical and methodological

disputes conducted in modern sociology; is reflective and critical of

various positions

K_U04 Can critically select information and materials for academic

work, using various sources in Polish and a foreign language as well

as modern technologies

K_U16 Knows how to interpret the role of culture in the life of the

individual and society

K_U17 Can relate an academic text to the problems of social life

and its empirical studies

The students will be expected to write 7 to 15-page leadership

cases.