Conflict-mitigation is a concept and methodology that emphasizes a broad societal understanding of conflicts obtained mainly through in-depth interviewing with many and varied actors. Developed through the work by the Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research (TFF), the conflict-mitigation process is intended to serve a number of…

The United States policy of branding governments--especially those in developing nations--as "good guys" or "bad guys" has been costly. The price has been paid in lost lives, confrontations with the Soviet Union, loss of diplomatic flexibility, and domestic political stresses. It seems an opportune time, now that the United…

Supports increasing emphasis on interethnic conflict around the world as part of an education in pluralism. Argues that the fuzzy moral relativism and feel-good message of most multicultural instruction tends to essentialize culture and inhibit any meaningful understanding. Maintains that facing difficult issues produces a true appreciation and…

Critiques Kenneth N. Waltz's "Theory of International Politics," a seminal work of political theory. Waltz argues for the necessity of constructing a system or theory for explaining the actions of nation-states. Watson counters that emphasis on a constructed theory often obscures a realistic examination of events. (MJP)

This bibliographic essay discusses peace research. There are four major sections. The first section discusses traditional peace research, i.e., research with relevance to world peace that was carried out before the term "peace research" became widely used. Emphasized are the disciplines of international relations, international…

Discusses strategies aimed at moving undergraduates beyond the traditional stereotypical and demonized portrait of the Middle East. Suggests focusing on boundaries (shifting between national, cultural, religious, and economic), on bases of information (different students bring different knowledge levels), and using a wide variety of biographies…