ICAR In The News - Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution

ICAR In The News

NEW! ICAR News Network: Current Analysis by Conflict Specialists

The ICAR News Network is a new online forum featuring current analysis by conflict specialists at George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. The forum addresses some the world’s most salient and intractable conflicts and provides critical next steps for constructive engagement. CLICK HERE

Reconciliation in Rwanda: Building Peace Through Dialogue
By Vanessa Noël Brown, ICAR M.S. Alumna
(Conflict Trends Magazine, Issue 1, 2008)

Facilitated dialogue in the aftermath of a national conflict can counteract otherwise destructive debates and promote reconciliation. Through the thoughtfully orchestrated use of dialogue, there is cause for optimism that Rwanda can reposition its narrative, filled with cycles of interethnic violence, to become one of Africa’s 21st century success stories. Dialogue is being used in various forms throughout the country, from formal discussion clubs to academic conferences, to help Rwandans strengthen national unity and equality. READ MORE

New York Times Features ICAR Professor Solon Simmons
By Patricia Cohen
(New York Times, July 3, 2008)

When Michael Olneck was standing, arms linked with other protesters, singing “We Shall Not Be Moved” in front of Columbia University’s library in 1968, Sara Goldrick-Rab had not yet been born. When he won tenure at the University of Wisconsin here in 1980, she was 3. And in January, when he retires at 62, Ms. Goldrick-Rab will be just across the hall, working to earn a permanent spot on the same faculty from which he is departing. READ MORE

High-Level Engagement by US and UK is Needed vis a vis Iran
By Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
(Financial Times, July 1, 2008)

Sir, Let us for a moment consider the merits of engagement ("A very small step: Pyongyang's nuclear declaration is no breakthrough", editorial, June 27). Three successes in 2008 are particularly salient and worth citing. US ambassador Christopher Hill's persistent diplomatic penetration of North Korea's notorious and noxious isolationism has finally unearthed some tractable - and previously conflict-ridden - landscape. READ MORE

Liberal Persuasions
By Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
(Economist, June 28, 2008)

I attended the recent conference on Islam in Kuala Lumpur and can confirm that the Dutch preference for pre-empting religious flare-ups was well expounded not only by a Dutch lawyer, Famile Fatma Arslan, whom you mentioned, but also by an adviser to the Dutch foreign ministry (“When religions talk”, June 14th). While groups like the Organisation of the Islamic Conference prefer legal methods to limit “defamation of religion”, the Dutch approach leans less on law and more on an astute use of early-warning mechanisms to avoid social tensions. READ MORE

New Treaty for Iran and Israel
By Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor
(Middle East Times, June 25, 2008)

It is often said in the Arab world that the road to Jerusalem goes through Washington, with the implicit assumption that only the Americans can bring the Israelis to the negotiating table. But there is a distinctly different dynamic emerging from the waning days of the U.S. presidency of George W. Bush. The road to Washington may in fact pass through Jerusalem. READ MORE

Toronto Star Features ICAR Professor Kevin Avruch
By Olivia Ward
(Toronto Star, June 22, 2008)

Canada has embarked on a painful voyage of discovery through years of misery inflicted on aboriginal children who were forced into residential schools. The process of truth and reconciliation has also connected us with the dark histories of other countries throughout the world, in a collective memory of injustice and hope for healing old wounds. READ MORE

Campus Radicals: A New Muslim Student Group Tries to Rouse the Moderates
By Jana El Horr, ICAR PhD Student, and Sana Saeed, ICAR MS Alumna
(Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2008)

The school year that just ended brought to the fore a couple of controversies over Muslim students on U.S. campuses. The University of Michigan announced in the fall that it would be spending $25,000 on footbaths for Muslim students. In the spring, Harvard's decision to provide women-only gym hours to accommodate some members of the campus Islamic society sparked debate in the ivory tower and beyond. Yet away from the often-harsh media glare, a profound shift has begun across the country. READ MORE

Conference Cites a Growing Gap in Muslim-Western Relations
Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student
(Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 17, 2008)

Last week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, suffering internal political setbacks and susceptible to overthrow by opposition, hosted a major tete-a-tete on the growing gap between the Muslim world and the West. The prime minister is a moderate; his agenda was laudable: to strategize sensible solutions to bridge the divide between Islam and countries considered quintessentially "western," with particular emphasis on the United States, the European Union, and Australia. READ MORE

Who Are the Real Friends of Israel?
By Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor
(Khaleej Times, June 14, 2008)

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), one of the most powerful lobby groups in the United States, just concluded its annual Washington conference. It drew a long line of administration officials and the presidential candidates to its doorsteps, all touting orthodox lines on what it means to be pro-Israel-messages carefully crafted to please the lobby. READ MORE

CTV News Interviews ICAR Professor Solon Simmons
By Jacqueline Milczarek
(CTV News, June 7, 2008)

Solon Simmons, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on CTV following Hillary Clinton's suspension of her campaign and support for Obama. Simmons anticipates that Clinton's supporters will vote for Obama over McCain and observes that Obama is embracing a 50-state strategy or "Dean's Gambit." Interview conducted by Jacqueline Milczarek on June 7th, 2008. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST

CTV News Interviews ICAR Professor Solon Simmons
By Marcia MacMillan
(CTV News, June 3, 2008)

Solon Simmons, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on CTV discussing the conclusion of the Democratic Primaries and Obama's apparent clinching of the nomination. Simmons analyzes the historic significance of this outcome, the role of the Clintons in the Democratic party, the need for Obama to tell the story about his relationship with Pastor Wright and Trinity, as well as potential running mates. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST

CTV News Interviews ICAR Professor Solon Simmons
By Scott Laurie
(CTV News, May 31, 2008)

Solon Simmons, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University talking about the Democratic Party's decision on the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan. SImmons describes the process as a "smoke filled room without the smoke," suggesting that deals may be made and the outcomes are uncertain. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST

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ICAR In The News NEW! ICAR News Network: Current Analysis by Conflict Specialists The ICAR News Network is a new online forum featuring current analysis by conflict specialists at George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. The forum addresses some the world’s most salient and intractable conflicts and provides critical next steps for constructive engagement. CLICK HERE Reconciliation in Rwanda: Building Peace Through Dialogue By Vanessa Noël Brown, ICAR M.S. Alumna (Conflict Trends Magazine, Issue 1, 2008) Facilitated dialogue in the aftermath of a national conflict can counteract otherwise destructive debates and promote reconciliation. Through the thoughtfully orchestrated use of dialogue, there is cause for optimism that Rwanda can reposition its narrative, filled with cycles of interethnic violence, to become one of Africa’s 21st century success stories. Dialogue is being used in various forms throughout the country, from formal discussion clubs to academic conferences, to help Rwandans strengthen national unity and equality. READ MORE New York Times Features ICAR Professor Solon Simmons By Patricia Cohen (New York Times, July 3, 2008) When Michael Olneck was standing, arms linked with other protesters, singing “We Shall Not Be Moved” in front of Columbia University’s library in 1968, Sara Goldrick-Rab had not yet been born. When he won tenure at the University of Wisconsin here in 1980, she was 3. And in January, when he retires at 62, Ms. Goldrick-Rab will be just across the hall, working to earn a permanent spot on the same faculty from which he is departing. READ MORE High-Level Engagement by US and UK is Needed vis a vis Iran By Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student (Financial Times, July 1, 2008) Sir, Let us for a moment consider the merits of engagement ("A very small step: Pyongyang's nuclear declaration is no breakthrough", editorial, June 27). Three successes in 2008 are particularly salient and worth citing. US ambassador Christopher Hill's persistent diplomatic penetration of North Korea's notorious and noxious isolationism has finally unearthed some tractable - and previously conflict-ridden - landscape. READ MORE Liberal Persuasions By Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student (Economist, June 28, 2008) I attended the recent conference on Islam in Kuala Lumpur and can confirm that the Dutch preference for pre-empting religious flare-ups was well expounded not only by a Dutch lawyer, Famile Fatma Arslan, whom you mentioned, but also by an adviser to the Dutch foreign ministry (“When religions talk”, June 14th). While groups like the Organisation of the Islamic Conference prefer legal methods to limit “defamation of religion”, the Dutch approach leans less on law and more on an astute use of early-warning mechanisms to avoid social tensions. READ MORE New Treaty for Iran and Israel By Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor (Middle East Times, June 25, 2008) It is often said in the Arab world that the road to Jerusalem goes through Washington, with the implicit assumption that only the Americans can bring the Israelis to the negotiating table. But there is a distinctly different dynamic emerging from the waning days of the U.S. presidency of George W. Bush. The road to Washington may in fact pass through Jerusalem. READ MORE Toronto Star Features ICAR Professor Kevin Avruch By Olivia Ward (Toronto Star, June 22, 2008) Canada has embarked on a painful voyage of discovery through years of misery inflicted on aboriginal children who were forced into residential schools. The process of truth and reconciliation has also connected us with the dark histories of other countries throughout the world, in a collective memory of injustice and hope for healing old wounds. READ MORE Campus Radicals: A New Muslim Student Group Tries to Rouse the Moderates By Jana El Horr, ICAR PhD Student, and Sana Saeed, ICAR MS Alumna (Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2008) The school year that just ended brought to the fore a couple of controversies over Muslim students on U.S. campuses. The University of Michigan announced in the fall that it would be spending $25,000 on footbaths for Muslim students. In the spring, Harvard's decision to provide women-only gym hours to accommodate some members of the campus Islamic society sparked debate in the ivory tower and beyond. Yet away from the often-harsh media glare, a profound shift has begun across the country. READ MORE Conference Cites a Growing Gap in Muslim-Western Relations Michael Shank, ICAR PhD Student (Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 17, 2008) Last week in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, suffering internal political setbacks and susceptible to overthrow by opposition, hosted a major tete-a-tete on the growing gap between the Muslim world and the West. The prime minister is a moderate; his agenda was laudable: to strategize sensible solutions to bridge the divide between Islam and countries considered quintessentially "western," with particular emphasis on the United States, the European Union, and Australia. READ MORE Who Are the Real Friends of Israel? By Marc Gopin, ICAR Professor (Khaleej Times, June 14, 2008) The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), one of the most powerful lobby groups in the United States, just concluded its annual Washington conference. It drew a long line of administration officials and the presidential candidates to its doorsteps, all touting orthodox lines on what it means to be pro-Israel-messages carefully crafted to please the lobby. READ MORE *CTV News* Interviews ICAR Professor Solon Simmons By Jacqueline Milczarek (CTV News, June 7, 2008) Solon Simmons, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on CTV following Hillary Clinton's suspension of her campaign and support for Obama. Simmons anticipates that Clinton's supporters will vote for Obama over McCain and observes that Obama is embracing a 50-state strategy or "Dean's Gambit." Interview conducted by Jacqueline Milczarek on June 7th, 2008. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST CTV News Interviews ICAR Professor Solon Simmons By Marcia MacMillan (CTV News, June 3, 2008) Solon Simmons, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on CTV discussing the conclusion of the Democratic Primaries and Obama's apparent clinching of the nomination. Simmons analyzes the historic significance of this outcome, the role of the Clintons in the Democratic party, the need for Obama to tell the story about his relationship with Pastor Wright and Trinity, as well as potential running mates. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST CTV News Interviews ICAR Professor Solon Simmons By Scott Laurie (CTV News, May 31, 2008) Solon Simmons, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University talking about the Democratic Party's decision on the seating of delegates from Florida and Michigan. SImmons describes the process as a "smoke filled room without the smoke," suggesting that deals may be made and the outcomes are uncertain. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST Next Page >>>		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