Peacebuilding: A Path to Global Competency

David J. SmithIndependent ConsultantGeorge Mason University

CCID 38th Annual ConferenceLas Vegas, NV

February 22-24, 2014

Peacebuilding: A Definition

Originally conceived in the context of post-conflict recovery efforts to promote reconciliation and reconstruction, the term peacebuilding has more recently taken on a broader meaning. It may include providing humanitarian relief, protecting human rights, ensuring security, establishing nonviolent modes of resolving conflicts, fostering reconciliation, providing trauma healing services, repatriating refugees and resettling internally displaced persons, supporting broad-based education, and aiding in economic reconstruction. As such, it also includes conflict prevention in the sense of preventing the recurrence of violence, as well as conflict management and post-conflict recovery. In a larger sense, peacebuilding involves a transformation toward more manageable, peaceful relationships and governance structures—the long-term process of addressing root causes and effects, reconciling differences, normalizing relations, and building institutions that can manage conflict without resort to violence.

– Peace Terms, U.S. Institute of Peace

Peacebuilding: A FrameworkStrategic Peacebuilding Paths

John Paul Lederach and Katie Mansfield, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies

Essential Questions

What is peacebuilding? How can it promote global

competency? How is it being advanced in

community colleges today? What are the implications

for student learning, career development, and a college mission?

What are resources available for faculty, students, and administrators?

Peacebuilding: An Applied Science

Building a House

PlanToolsResources (materials, money, vehicles, etc.)

Labor

Scenario: Work for an NGO working in a conflict zone where there is violence/tension due to religious/cultural differences

Building Peace

????

Advancing Global Competency

Students engage in exploring contemporary global issues

Students consider implications for personal, collective, corporate, and governmental action

Students reflect on their role as a global citizen

Students develop global awareness, applicable skills (conflict analysis, language, etc.), and increased confidence levels

Students develop career and personal objectives

Academic Forms in Community Colleges

Academic Degree/Non Degree Programs (30 U.S. and Canadian community colleges)

Peace Studies Conflict Resolution/Management

Stand Alone Courses/Course Infusion Introduction to Peace Studies Human Rights and International Law Conflict Resolution Techniques

Study Abroad Troika Program (students, faculty) Fulbright (faculty, administrators)

Experiential Learning Model UN International Negotiations Modules Project Freirian approaches to learning (Paulo

Freire) Community Based Learning

Peace Fairs Service Learning

Implications for Student Learning, Career Development ,

and a College Mission Tapping often unrecognized strengths of

students (language, travel, maturity, careers) Provide career/professional goals = increased

rates of completion and transfer Integration among a range of disciplines

(social sciences, humanities, vocational education [health sciences, business], ESOL, etc.)

Provide connections including to transfer institutions, local/global NGOs, local communities, and diaspora groups

Resources

Peacebuilding in Community Colleges: A Teaching Resource (USIP Press, 2013)

Professional Development U.S. Institute of Peace, American Red

Cross, etc. (and book appendix resources) My blog: davidjsmithblog.wordpress.com Conferences/meetings

George Mason University, June 2014 Scottsdale Community College, April 2014

Conflict Resolution Education Connection

Thank you!

David J. Smith, MS, JDEducational Consultant and Peacebuilding Trainer

Rockville, MD (Washington, DC)240-855-4556

http://davidjsmithblog.wordpress.com/

davidjsmith@davidjsmithconsulting.comdavidjsmith@fulbrightmail.org

@davidjsmith2013

http://bookstore.usip.org/books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=358277