The Dynamics of Conflict: A Guide to Engagement and Intervention

To Prepare:

• Review Chapter 9 in your course text, The Dynamics of Conflict: A Guide to Engagement and Intervention.
• Select one international conflict that you feel has reached impasse or otherwise stalled in the resolution process.

The Assignment (6–8 pages):

• In two pages or less, briefly describe the relevant facts of the conflict you selected, such as sources, stakeholders, interests of each party, and interventions attempted.
• In at least three pages, answer each of the following questions:
  • Prior to the conflict stalling, how did the parties deal with the integrative and distributive aspects of the negotiation?
  • Why were the parties unable to reach Pareto optimality?
  • Has true impasse been reached? How do you know?
• Finally, in at least two pages, explain what steps can be taken for the parties to effectively work through impasse. (Refer to Chapter 9 of The Dynamics of Conflict: A Guide to Engagement and Intervention, and keep in mind that working through impasse sometimes means finding the next best step; do not force an agreement or push the parties out of impasse if that is their best option.)
• The entire paper should be 6–8 pages and include a minimum of three outside peer-reviewed sources in addition to references to the Learning Resources from the course.