Challenge #1
People who feel victimized must learn how to more effectively Pursue Justice Without Violence
Victims of terrible oppression and institutional violence cannot be expected to "take it" indefinitely. They must have realistic, nonviolent paths to a better future.
Challenge #2
In the pursuit of justice, we must also be able to constructively Deal with Unrightable Wrongs
There are terrible "wrongs" that can never be made "right." We must learn how to deal with these injustices fairly while simultaneously building positive future relationships.
Challenge #3
We must find ways to sharply Limit the Human Drive to Dominate and Humiliate Others
Unrestrained "power over" instincts produce destructive confrontations and tyranny. We need more effective ways of resisting these instincts and encouraging "power with," cooperative behaviors instead.
Challenge #4
We must find effective ways to begin to Address the Massive Inequality Problem
Victims of extreme material deprivation need the real hope that comes from realistic, sustainable development strategies. These strategies must be socially and culturally appropriate, and also able to address the gross inequalities that result from deep-rooted social structural issues and the pursuit of boundless greed.
Challenge #5
Wherever possible, we need to Move Beyond Win-Lose Psychology
While win-win solutions are not always possible, there are far too many cases in which we fail to pursue opportunities for advancing everyone's interests by working together.
Challenge #6
We must find more effective ways to Oppose and Delegitimize Terrorism
"Justice without violence" strategies must be supplemented by hard security measures capable of physically preventing terrorist acts and sharply limiting public support for terrorism.
Challenge #7
We must develop genuinely effective techniques to Oppose Tyranny and Illegitimate Uses of State Violence
Tyrants, "tyrant wannabes," and their supporters cannot be allowed to dominate others through violence and threat.
Challenge #8
We must find better ways to Promote Civil Society
The transition from tyranny requires effective security measures; workable peace agreements; the promotion of the rule of law; and the strengthening of culturally appropriate, democratic institutions.
Challenge #9
We must find ways to Make Cultural Coexistence Really Work
We have to be able to diminish ethnic tensions and build cross-cultural understanding, and find ways to tolerate differences while building on commonalities.
Challenge #10
We must continue to search for better ways to Limit the Escalation Spiral
Minor disputes are inevitable. They can solve problems and bring about positive social change. But they must be prevented from escalating into destructive, counterproductive, and, all too often, brutal confrontations.
Challenge #11
Everything depends upon our ability to Protect Those Struggling for Peace and Justice
The successful targeting of those who advocate more constructive approaches to conflict can make peacebuilding efforts all but impossible. Protecting those working for peace is crucial.
Challenge #12
We Must Find Better Ways To Limit Misunderstandings
Misunderstandings; inaccurate, negative stereotypes; and worldview differences are strong contributors to a conflict's intractability. Substantial communication improvements are essential to the promotion of more constructive conflict.
Challenge #13
We must find effective ways to Prevent Propagandists from Exacerbating Conflict
Conflict profiteers and hate mongers must be stopped from intensifying conflict for their own selfish gain.
Challenge #14
We must find better ways to Reduce Psychological Resistance to New Conflict Approaches
People are very reluctant to change the ways in which they approach conflict. They are resistant to contrary opinions and to the possibility that they might be wrong. This leads people to "stay the course," even when the result is clearly harmful. In order to be implemented, positive new approaches must include effective "face saving" components.
Challenge #15
We must find ways to Improve the Subjective, Emotional Side of Conflict Decision-making
Many key decisions are not made using analytical thought processes. Rather, they are based on emotions or feelings — of distrust, fear, hatred, hope, or love. We need creative and effective strategies for improving these subjective aspects of conflict behavior.
Challenge #16
We must find better ways to Deal with the Turf Preservation Problem
Organizations consistently oppose anything that threatens their conflict role or funding base. To limit such opposition, we need effective ways to make all conflict organizations part of the solution.
Challenge #17
We must find better ways to Deal with Conflict's Massive Scale and Complexity
The course of conflict is determined by the actions of all citizens, not just a few leaders. Thus, we need conflict intervention strategies that enable many thousands of people in different conflict roles to effectively work together as part of a very complex and large-scale peacebuilding process.
Challenge #18
We must find ways to Work Within Circles of Trust
Social groups base their actions on the views of trusted opinion leaders while excluding the advice of experts from other, less-trusted groups. This means that advocates of change must find allies and champions within each conflict community, so that new approaches can be proposed from within each group's circle of trust, not from the outside.
Challenge #19
We must find ways to Limit Conflict Intervention Costs
Intense competition for scarce financial resources inevitably limits what is possible. Effective cost minimization efforts will make it possible to do more.
Challenge #20
We need to Develop More Effective Conflict Education and Training Programs
Most people learn about conflict the "hard" way — from often brutal personal experience. Unfortunately, people often draw the wrong lessons from these experiences — lessons that make things worse, not better. Conflict education and training programs can break the cycle by giving people the skills they need to deal with difficult conflict situations.
Other Resources from Beyond Intractability Peacebuilding in Difficult and Intractable Conflicts This website provides a wealth of resources for peacebuilders working at any stage of difficult or intractable conflicts.
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Emily Green Balch Former International President of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and 1946 Nobel Peace Laureate
The Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base Project Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess, Co-Directors and Editors c/o Conflict Information Consortium(Formerly Conflict Research Consortium), University of Colorado Campus Box 580, Boulder, CO 80309 Phone: (303) 492-1635; Fax: (303) 492-2154; Contact
