Have you ever had a conflict in your life that you didn’t know how to handle?

If you’re a human being, the answer is probably yes.

Don’t sweat it. Like we already implied, you’re far from alone. On top of this, there is a growing field of researchers, scholars, scientists, and practitioners who are all working very hard to try to help you out.

Who are these people and why haven’t I heard of them?

Excellent question, dear reader; the answer, however, is somewhat complicated.

Who They Are:

People who contribute to this field come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Some are pacifists, some are soldiers, some are moral philosophers, and some are politicians. There are also plenty of psychologists, sociologists, theologists, businesspeople, lawyers, government workers, revolutionaries, and academics from any one or more of these fields.

Because of this diversity, it isn’t always easy to get people to agree on terms. For as many sources as are available on the subject of conflict, it seems like they all contribute to a uniquely named field.

Examples include but are not limited to Peace Studies, Conflict Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Security Studies, Conflict Management, Conflict Resolution, Dispute Resolution, Conflict Transformation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Negotiation, Nonviolent Communication.

We certainly aren’t arguing all these terms are synonymous, nor would we say that the fields listed share the same goals in their respective inquiries.  In some cases,  the assumptions and currently accepted working theories of one branch of research and application can appear entirely opposed to another. However, nearly impossible to ignore the similarities or at least the interconnectivity between and among these schools of thought.

In short, we might describe each of the examples (and more) as being like their own house: distinct not only in furniture in décor but also in the blueprint design. Even though each one is unique to some degree, they all consist of the same building materials.

Why you haven’t heard of them:

Many people in these fields are practitioners who have specialized titles like ‘mediator,’ ‘human resources officer,’ ‘acquisitions negotiator,’ ‘marriage counselor,’ and so on. When they write books and publish articles in consumer publications, they often market their product around their professional context. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with doing so. Still, it increases the informational splintering, making it harder for the average person to put the pieces together.

Those who work in related fields as academics are constantly researching and publishing on this stuff. It’s what they do for a living, outside of the classroom, of course. There is similar informational splintering between journals, which are often dedicated to specific topics and come with unique jargon, definitions, and acronyms. On top of this, there is also an access barrier through the cost of educational material. The average person living on an average income can afford academic books on this stuff without breaking the bank. Even so, the vast majority of publishing is limited to the realm of academic and professional journals. Access to which can become costly quite quickly. So you may not have heard of these people simply because there’s no cheap and convenient way to learn who they are and what they have to say, and that’s a BIG problem.

This is where we come in

At Conflict for Peace, we want to help bridge the gap between the experts and the rest of us. We do this by gathering as much information and reliable data as we can handle on a given subject. We then take all the facts, theories, hypotheses, definitions, and biographical profiles, organize them, and present them in a way that (hopefully) balances simplicity, depth, and entertainment. 

Thus far, we have created a (growing but humble) hub of outside resources for curious brains to explore. As of this edit, we have begun to output original content. Our channels currently include an edutainment radio sitcom and some more in-depth analytical discourse. Both formats are available on our one-stop podcast channel (Available on Spotify, iHeartRadio, and on the Podcast Page right here on the site). If you think two formats are too many for one show, prepare to be upset! As we continue to grow, we would like to add interviews to the podcast as well!

In addition to the podcast, one day soon, we hope to publish original articles that help keep you up to date with all things conflict-related!  In our wildest dreams, we would like to develop in-person and online training courses to take your skills to the next level! Of course, all this is a high hill to climb, but we know we can do it with a bit of help! If you want to assist us in making this a reality or support us in any way, please visit our contact page and shoot us a message!