Mediating Ethno-Political Conflicts Panel at Hofstra Law

Mediating Ethno-Political Conflicts: The Challenges of Using Conflict Transformation Approaches

Wednesday, February 16, 12noon – 1pm, Room 230

Moderated by Prof. Baruch Bush and Adjunct Prof. Judith Saul

The “transformative mediation” method has been very effective when used in interpersonal conflicts in the U.S.  However, Erik Cleven and Vesna Matovic are two “mediators” experienced in ethno-political conflicts, and they are applying this method to peace-building and post-conflict development efforts in many places overseas, including the Balkans and the Great Lakes Region in Africa.  They will share their experiences, and describe how they’ve addressed the challenges they face when using transformative methods in this context.  These challenges include: 

·        Engaging with parties who may be hesitant or fearful of participating

·        Addressing conflicts that are between groups, communities or even nations

·        Linking conflict transformation to broader social and/or political change

·        Responding to external actors whose goals are inconsistent with those of local people

·        Addressing funders’ expectations for outcomes delivered within deadlines, when conflict is often tied to generations of misunderstanding or hostility

Vesna Matovic is Manager of Training and Learning for the Peace-building Issues Program at International Alert, UK.  She leads the development and implementation of training and education aimed at influencing the policies and practices of donors, international agencies, and Alert’s own peace-building practice. Vesna has more than 15 years of experience in conflict transformation, working with individuals, organizations and networks in the Balkans, Middle East, East Africa, South and South East Asia and Central Asia.

Erik Cleven is a PhD candidate in political science at Purdue University. His doctoral dissertation focuses on ethnic violence in Kenya and Kosovo and the role of informal networks and institutions in the mobilization of violence. Prior to graduate school Erik worked for many years in international conflict resolution, and facilitated numerous interethnic dialogue workshops in the former Yugoslavia, Russia and the North Caucasus, and the Great Lakes Region in Africa.