Mission
The mission of the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation (ISCT) is to study and promote the understanding of conflict processes and intervention from the transformative framework. First, we'll explain the framework; then we'll say more about our mission.The Transformative Framework
The transformative framework was articulated by Bush and Folger in The Promise of Mediation: Responding to Conflict through Empowerment and Recognition (1994). Bush and Folger theorized that conflict can be understood as a crisis in human interaction. The crisis of conflict often causes parties to feel weak (unsettled, confused, fearful, disorganized, and unsure of what to do) and self-absorbed (self-protective, defensive, suspicious, and incapable of stepping outside of their own frameworks). But within this crisis lies opportunity, for when conflict is handled productively it has the potential for empowerment (parties grow calmer, clearer, more confident, more organized, more decisive, regaining a sense of strength, and better able to act and handle life's problems) and recognition (parties voluntarily choose to become more open, attentive, and responsive to the situation of another, thereby expanding their perspective to include an appreciation for another's situation).Empowerment and recognition work together. Accomplishment of one is likely to lead to the other, with each reinforcing the other. As people grow stronger, they are more able to offer recognition, and as they give recognition, they tend to feel stronger. The interplay of empowerment and recognition fundamentally changes the quality of the interaction between people. From viewing Self as victim, and Other as oppressor, people in conflict move to viewing each other as partners in a human relationship. The experience of this transformation of the conflict is of ultimate value to the parties.
The transformative framework has been analyzed and applied in the context of third-party mediation of disputes. The specific practices a mediator uses grow out of a deeper level -- the orientation of the mediator. This is the mediator's mindset about conflict and about the mediator's job or role. A mediator with a "transformative" orientation believes conflict presents opportunities for individuals to change (transform) their interactions with others, if they choose; and that it is the mediator's job to help people take advantage of these opportunities by supporting their decision-making and perspective-taking efforts.
The transformative framework is based on a Relational view of the world : the view that people are autonomous beings who are at the same time fundamentally connected to one another, and who are constantly striving to balance their autonomy with relating to others. This worldview can be best understood as a contrast to the prevailing Individualist worldview of our society, in which people are assumed to be separate and self-interested, motivated only by the prospect of maximizing their individual gain.
The transformative framework is relevant for many types of conflict intervention processes, including interpersonal, small group, and organizational applications.
Our Mission
The mission of the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation (ISCT) is to study and promote the understanding of conflict processes and intervention from the transformative framework by:- Conducting research;
- Developing publications;
- Developing and disseminating educational and training materials, resources and programs;
- Presenting education and training programs for educational institutions, agencies, corporations and other public or private organizations;
- Organizing conferences, workshops, and seminars; and
- Developing a network of researchers, mediators, trainers, and teachers who understand and promote the transformative framework for conflict intervention.