Little Book of Conflict Transformation

July 1, 2003
Conflict transformation, best characterized as an orientation or framework, is as far from a practical tool as possible, says Lederach (international peace building, Joan B. Kroch Inst.). Instead, it offers "perspective on conflict and change." Though Lederach considers conflict on personal, relational, structural, and cultural levels, his extremely wide focus is on societal conflicts; these are optimistically seen as opportunities to create "constructive change reduce violence, increase justice and respond to real-life problems in human relationships." This book has zero practicality on the individual level, but it would be useful for those studying/helping global-sized problems "in contexts where there are repeated and deep-rooted cycles of conflict episodes that have created destructive and violent patterns," as in the Middle East or Northern Ireland. Similarly, community activists, politicians, diplomats, or think tankers might use the book to construct or conceptualize a framework to gain intellectual control over large issues. Appropriate for collections with aheavy emphasis on business relations, international affairs, and peace studies.-Douglas C. Lord, formerly with Connecticut State Lib., Hartford

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