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Diplomacy

FEATURED COMMENTARY

Why Use Mediation?
Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri & Vanessa Noël Brown, ICAR M.S. Student
Posted: 04/24/08

[Published, Le Matin, April 24, 2008] Conflict is present in all societies, be it in families, businesses or communities. Conflict is not inherently negative: it results from the diverse complexities amongst groups or individuals with regards to their beliefs, opinions, interests and identities. While such differences are a powerful source of the richness of the world, they sometimes lead to escalating tensions if emerging conflicts are not thoughtfully managed. Disputes that result in litigation or worse, to the use of violence, frequently have additional negative impact on our jobs and families. Alternatively, utilizing non-violent, extrajudicial approaches to deal with professional or personal disputes provides a foundation for harmonious homes, prosperous businesses, stable communities and subsequently, a more peaceful society at large. READ MORE

RECENT COMMENTARY

A Mufti, A Christian and a Rabbi
Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor
Posted: 03/12/08

[Published, Washington Post-Newsweek "On Faith", March 12, 2008] In the West, "A Mufti, a Christian and a Rabbi ..." is often how a good interfaith joke begins. But I live inside this reality. I am a rabbi and my Syrian colleague, Hind Kabawat, is a Christian Arab. We have worked for four years with the Grand Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, in both Damascus and Aleppo. READ MORE

Gilchrest's Defeat a Loss for Congress
Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student
Posted: 02/15/08

[Published, Baltimore Sun, February 15, 2008] Not only did the 1st District lose a congressman our Founding Fathers would have been proud of, but Congress lost a representative any democracy would be proud of ("Change-minded electorate ousts Wynn, Gilchrest," Feb. 13). Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest was a rare breed on Capitol Hill who chose principles over partisanship, diplomacy over demagoguery and the contemplative over the caustic. READ MORE

Sanctions Wrong Response to Abuse
Ross Gearllach, ICAR M.S. Student
Posted: 02/11/08

[Published, Baltimore Sun, February 11, 2008] I was heartened to read that the United States has taken concrete steps to confront the repressive military junta of Myanmar ("U.S. moves to punish Myanmar regime," Feb. 6). This is indeed encouraging; for far too long, the plight of the citizens of Myanmar has been ignored by the governments of the world. READ MORE

High Stakes in Effort to Sink Gilchrest's Canoe Diplomacy
Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student
Posted: 02/06/08

[Published, The Hill, February 6, 2008] In the article "Club for Growth goes after Gilchrest with ad buy" (Feb. 1), caustic conservatives, wielding a weighty $590,000 in television ad spending, queue to attack Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.) prior to Maryland's Feb. 12 GOP primary. Those in Washington favoring a deliberative and diplomatic democracy watch as a rare breed in Congress, to which Gilchrest belongs, faces near-extinction. READ MORE

The Missing Two-Way Street
Marci Moberg and Jay Moon, ICAR M.S. Students
Posted: 12/01/07

[Published, ICAR News, Vol. 1, Issue 4, December 2007] In an effort to win hearts and minds, the Bush administration’s public diplomacy initiatives in the Muslim World have failed to do either. It squandered opportunities to gain valuable insight into anti-U.S. sentiment, opting instead for a psychological operations-style campaign aimed at explaining the benefits of U.S. foreign policy to the Middle East. As Muslim opinion of the U.S. continues to plummet in the wake of Karen Hughes' resignation, the public diplomacy shop faces an uphill battle. READ MORE

Putting Iran on Annapolis Guest List Less of a Risk than Not
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
Posted: 11/30/07

[Published, Financial Times, November 30, 2007] Sir, Saudi Arabia and Syria hardly constitute a coalition of the craven ("Iran looms large over Arab 'coalition of the frightened' ", November 28). The appearance of these and other Arab states at the Annapolis peace summit is anything but an exhibition of anxiety over Tehran's regional role. The Arab League's alignment with US President George W. Bush on this peace process remains consistent with previous proclamations. Nothing was new about the Arab voice this time. READ MORE

A New Model for American Foreign Policy
By Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Richard Rubenstein, ICAR Professor
Posted: 11/13/07

[Published, The Hill, November 13, 2007] After January 2009, the Bush-Cheney administration will be gone and new leaders will be tasked with cleaning up the mess created by ill-conceived and poorly executed foreign policies. But how will they succeed in avoiding the mistakes that have cost our country so much in lives, money and international respect over the past eight years? A key imperative, it seems to us, is to make conflict resolution and prevention, rather than military threats and punitive sanctions, the centerpiece of a redesigned global role for the United States.READ MORE

How to Challenge Iran's Militancy Without Using Arms
Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor, and Rep. Gregory Meeks
Posted: 08/22/07

[Published, Christian Science Monitor, August 23, 2007] There have been persistent rumors in Washington that President Bush does not want to leave office without "doing something" about Iran. Even more alarming, there have been rumors that Mr. Bush has solicited a green light from Russian President Vladimir Putin for Israel to "do something" about Iran. One of the central problems with the Bush administration is that it thinks military first and sometimes military only – with disastrous results for America. Though military action is an option, the consequences of the United States or Israel attacking Iran would be catastrophic. READ MORE

Now is the Time for the U.S. to Find its Diplomatic Focus and Footing
By Mark Jansson, ICAR Certificate Student
Posted: 08/10/07

Last week Washington scoffed in unison at the Iraqi Parliament’s decision to adjourn for the entire month of August. Many inside the beltway were quick to point out that American troops are forced to deal with the same summer heat as everyone else in Baghdad, and underneath one-hundred pounds of combat gear no less. But rather than hiding behind facile comparisons involving politicians and soldiers, our executives and legislators should be working together to assist politicians and soldiers alike by redefining and reinvigorating the U.S.’s diplomatic purpose.READ MORE

Bad Behavior Brings Good Results
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student, and Marwan Kabalan
Posted: 06/06/07

[Published, Foreign Policy in Focus, April 27, 2007] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) apparently has a penchant for badness. For visiting Syria, the Speaker received a harsh reprimand by Vice President Dick Cheney who thought it “bad behavior.” Though the Speaker remained relatively un-phased by the scolding, Cheney made his point. The warning contained a deeper meaning—one that the Speaker understood immediately and that may explain why she passed on House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Lantos’ (D-CA) recommendation to do the same with Iran. READ MORE

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ICAR News Network Diplomacy FEATURED COMMENTARY Why Use Mediation? Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri & Vanessa Noël Brown, ICAR M.S. Student Posted: 04/24/08 [Published, Le Matin, April 24, 2008] Conflict is present in all societies, be it in families, businesses or communities. Conflict is not inherently negative: it results from the diverse complexities amongst groups or individuals with regards to their beliefs, opinions, interests and identities. While such differences are a powerful source of the richness of the world, they sometimes lead to escalating tensions if emerging conflicts are not thoughtfully managed. Disputes that result in litigation or worse, to the use of violence, frequently have additional negative impact on our jobs and families. Alternatively, utilizing non-violent, extrajudicial approaches to deal with professional or personal disputes provides a foundation for harmonious homes, prosperous businesses, stable communities and subsequently, a more peaceful society at large. READ MORE RECENT COMMENTARY A Mufti, A Christian and a Rabbi Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor Posted: 03/12/08 [Published, Washington Post-Newsweek "On Faith", March 12, 2008] In the West, "A Mufti, a Christian and a Rabbi ..." is often how a good interfaith joke begins. But I live inside this reality. I am a rabbi and my Syrian colleague, Hind Kabawat, is a Christian Arab. We have worked for four years with the Grand Mufti of Syria, Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, in both Damascus and Aleppo. READ MORE Gilchrest's Defeat a Loss for Congress Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student Posted: 02/15/08 [Published, Baltimore Sun, February 15, 2008] Not only did the 1st District lose a congressman our Founding Fathers would have been proud of, but Congress lost a representative any democracy would be proud of ("Change-minded electorate ousts Wynn, Gilchrest," Feb. 13). Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest was a rare breed on Capitol Hill who chose principles over partisanship, diplomacy over demagoguery and the contemplative over the caustic. READ MORE Sanctions Wrong Response to Abuse Ross Gearllach, ICAR M.S. Student Posted: 02/11/08 [Published, Baltimore Sun, February 11, 2008] I was heartened to read that the United States has taken concrete steps to confront the repressive military junta of Myanmar ("U.S. moves to punish Myanmar regime," Feb. 6). This is indeed encouraging; for far too long, the plight of the citizens of Myanmar has been ignored by the governments of the world. READ MORE High Stakes in Effort to Sink Gilchrest's Canoe Diplomacy Michael Shank, ICAR Ph.D. Student Posted: 02/06/08 [Published, The Hill, February 6, 2008] In the article "Club for Growth goes after Gilchrest with ad buy" (Feb. 1), caustic conservatives, wielding a weighty $590,000 in television ad spending, queue to attack Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.) prior to Maryland's Feb. 12 GOP primary. Those in Washington favoring a deliberative and diplomatic democracy watch as a rare breed in Congress, to which Gilchrest belongs, faces near-extinction. READ MORE The Missing Two-Way Street Marci Moberg and Jay Moon, ICAR M.S. Students Posted: 12/01/07 [Published, ICAR News, Vol. 1, Issue 4, December 2007] In an effort to win hearts and minds, the Bush administration’s public diplomacy initiatives in the Muslim World have failed to do either. It squandered opportunities to gain valuable insight into anti-U.S. sentiment, opting instead for a psychological operations-style campaign aimed at explaining the benefits of U.S. foreign policy to the Middle East. As Muslim opinion of the U.S. continues to plummet in the wake of Karen Hughes' resignation, the public diplomacy shop faces an uphill battle. READ MORE Putting Iran on Annapolis Guest List Less of a Risk than Not Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student Posted: 11/30/07 [Published, Financial Times, November 30, 2007] Sir, Saudi Arabia and Syria hardly constitute a coalition of the craven ("Iran looms large over Arab 'coalition of the frightened' ", November 28). The appearance of these and other Arab states at the Annapolis peace summit is anything but an exhibition of anxiety over Tehran's regional role. The Arab League's alignment with US President George W. Bush on this peace process remains consistent with previous proclamations. Nothing was new about the Arab voice this time. READ MORE A New Model for American Foreign Policy By Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) and Richard Rubenstein, ICAR Professor Posted: 11/13/07 [Published, The Hill, November 13, 2007] After January 2009, the Bush-Cheney administration will be gone and new leaders will be tasked with cleaning up the mess created by ill-conceived and poorly executed foreign policies. But how will they succeed in avoiding the mistakes that have cost our country so much in lives, money and international respect over the past eight years? A key imperative, it seems to us, is to make conflict resolution and prevention, rather than military threats and punitive sanctions, the centerpiece of a redesigned global role for the United States.READ MORE How to Challenge Iran's Militancy Without Using Arms Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor, and Rep. Gregory Meeks Posted: 08/22/07 [Published, Christian Science Monitor, August 23, 2007] There have been persistent rumors in Washington that President Bush does not want to leave office without "doing something" about Iran. Even more alarming, there have been rumors that Mr. Bush has solicited a green light from Russian President Vladimir Putin for Israel to "do something" about Iran. One of the central problems with the Bush administration is that it thinks military first and sometimes military only – with disastrous results for America. Though military action is an option, the consequences of the United States or Israel attacking Iran would be catastrophic. READ MORE Now is the Time for the U.S. to Find its Diplomatic Focus and Footing By Mark Jansson, ICAR Certificate Student Posted: 08/10/07 Last week Washington scoffed in unison at the Iraqi Parliament’s decision to adjourn for the entire month of August. Many inside the beltway were quick to point out that American troops are forced to deal with the same summer heat as everyone else in Baghdad, and underneath one-hundred pounds of combat gear no less. But rather than hiding behind facile comparisons involving politicians and soldiers, our executives and legislators should be working together to assist politicians and soldiers alike by redefining and reinvigorating the U.S.’s diplomatic purpose.READ MORE Bad Behavior Brings Good Results Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student, and Marwan Kabalan Posted: 06/06/07 [Published, Foreign Policy in Focus, April 27, 2007] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) apparently has a penchant for badness. For visiting Syria, the Speaker received a harsh reprimand by Vice President Dick Cheney who thought it “bad behavior.” Though the Speaker remained relatively un-phased by the scolding, Cheney made his point. The warning contained a deeper meaning—one that the Speaker understood immediately and that may explain why she passed on House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Lantos’ (D-CA) recommendation to do the same with Iran. READ MORE News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Sri Lanka / Turkey /		About ICAR Student Information Prospective Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Career Services Academic Programs Library ICAR In The News Events Technology Resources ICAR Publications Point Of View Center Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution