Description

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Conflict, as distinct from violence, lies at the heart of all social and political change. It is conflict that is often a sign and mechanism for change, it has many positive characteristics, which we can use to address direct, cultural and structural violence. In order to thrive, peaceful societies need to be able to manage a degree of conflict skilfully.

Working with Conflict embodies and reflects the rich diversity of over 300 peace practitioners from some 70 countries. Pooling their varied experiences across a wide variety of themes - poverty, war, the rise of surveillance and extremism, climate change and environmental degradation, gender and conflict, as well as security cooperation and international relations - Working with Conflict is an accessible practical resource, for both individuals and organisations working and researching working in conflict-prone and unstable parts of the world. Easy to use, including helpful visual materials, it provides a range of practical tools - processes, ideas, techniques - for tackling conflict, as well as providing links to other key conflict-related and peace-building resources, including organisations, publications and websites.

About the Author

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Simon Fisher is an activist, facilitator, trainer, educator and writer, and has worked with organisations in over 40 countries, supporting many initiatives for dialogue and change. Vesna Matovic is an experienced peacebuilding and conflict transformation specialist with more than 20 years' experience as a consultant, facilitator, mediator, analyst and trainer on conflict and peace issues. Bridget Walker's background is in international development, largely in the NGO sector, including Oxfam GB and Responding to Conflict. Dylan Mathews is the CEO of Peace Direct and has worked for a range of UK based international development and humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, Landmine Action, the British Red Cross and Oxford Research Group.Simon Fisher is an activist, facilitator, trainer, educator and writer, and has worked with organisations in over 40 countries, supporting many initiatives for dialogue and change. After directing a global education project, he was Oxfam Representative in DRC before co-founding Responding to Conflict in 1991. Out of this experience he co-authored Working with Conflict: Skills and Strategies for Action (Zed, 2000), the precursor of this book. Vesna Matovic is an experienced peacebuilding and conflict transformation specialist with more than 20 years' experience as a consultant, facilitator, mediator, analyst and trainer on conflict and peace issues. She works with International Alert, leading Peacebuilding Training and Learning programmes in conflict analysis, conflict sensitivity, dialogue and mediation. Bridget Walker's background is in international development, largely in the NGO sector, including Oxfam GB and Responding to Conflict. Her work has taken her to many countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Southern Caucasus and Former Yugoslavia. From 2005 to 2012 she served on the Board of Christian Aid, and is currently a member of the Advisory Group of Concordis International. Dylan Mathews is the CEO of Peace Direct and has worked for a range of UK based international development and humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, Landmine Action, the British Red Cross and Oxford Research Group.