Conflict Resolution Practice in Light of Collective Trauma and Power Asymmetries

The Herbert C. Kelman Seminar on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution presents a virtual discussion with Pamela Steiner
Senior Fellow, FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Pam Steiner will draw on learnings from her recently-released book, Collective Trauma and the Armenian Genocide: Armenian, Turkish and Azerbaijani Relations since 1839. The relations of these peoples have often been violent and existentially threatening, and hence comprised of major traumatic events. Steiner will offer analysis and proposals for change in such situations. The talk will also touch on some of the still potentially inspiring commonalities among these three peoples that were unsuccessfully promoted by historical actors aiming to improve intergroup relations.

Steiner will advocate that practitioners of conflict resolution explicitly take account of collective trauma in their work. She will also argue that one way of many for doing this is through instituting an additional kind of conflict resolution meeting to include a wider range and greater number of participants. Finally, she will briefly set the impact of conflict resolution work against that of powerful interests with investment in the status quo.