VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 — SPRING 2007

Conflict permeates society. Conflict amongst individuals, ethnic groups, nation states or ideologies is the only constant in the evolution of civilization. The sources of conflict are innumerable, as are its incarnations. As the twentieth century came to a close, conflict erupted in Bosnia, Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, the Congo, and Liberia, but largely separated from the immediate American experience. However, on September 11th it became real just how far conflict extends, and the international community is finally awakening to the conclusion that conflict cannot be ignored because its reach is borderless. The quest for resources, ideological superiority, religious right, and even racial dominance all led to conflicts realized in World War II concentration camps, the genocide in the Sudan, the current conflict in Iraq, and in a different but much more personal form, the school shooting at Virginia Tech.

Violence is only the most visible form of conflict and its final stage. Fortunately, most conflicts never reach this stage, because the nature of conflict requires a subtle interplay of support, ideas, and accountability for it to progress. The frequency and diversity of conflict provides numerous examples for examination with valuable instruments for assessment. In the current issue, we examine issues surrounding conflict, the forces that influence it, the continuum of reactions to it, and the new challenges to policy making; how do these factors contribute to a conflict’s duration and the future of resolution?

Support for conflict drives it, sustains it, and allows it to reach its final stage. Dr. Tatyana Karaman, Dr. Fred Shepherd, and Dr. Randolph Horn from Samford University examine the impact of public opinion and partisanship in A Paradox of Post-September 11th Foreign Policy Legitimacy. Statistically exposing the centrality of partisanship in foreign policy consent, this article analyzes the influence of domestic politics in policy legitimization. What emerges is a shifting alliance of support, driven by factors like political affiliations, which ultimately drive support for policies, even if the cost is high.

Similarly, conflict in the absence of overwhelming public support illustrates that the accountability of government is an important aspect in the continuation of conflict. A regime that is not answerable to its population is unconstrained by its support and willingly engage in policies the regime sees as beneficial, even at the expense of its populace. Jeremy Hastings’ article Confronting Power with Truth: The Bush Administration and Human Rights NGO’s points to the new watchdogs of government and examines the conflict between an overly powerful regime and the civil society and non-governmental organizations attempting to hold it accountable. The tenuous balance between the government and its population, as well as the various watchdog groups is a frightening reminder of the power of the Leviathan to wield power irrespective of its source.

After examining factors contributing to the diversity in reactions to conflict, the final article exposes a new challenge in policy making. In a world in which demographic distribution sees an increasing population in the poorer nations, and a decreasing population in the developed world, immigration extends beyond economics. Instead it has become a worldwide issue of national and religious identity, and if not addressed properly, will soon morph into the next source of conflict. As such, in Integrated Immigration Policy and the European Union, Sofia Perazzo presents a challenging concept for us, the next generation of policy makers and voters. Only an integrated, constructive solution can prevent immigration from becoming the next trigger for a conflict that encompasses far more than the suburbs of Paris, the inner-cities of Berlin and Los Angeles, and the minutemen standing at the U.S.-Mexican border.

Reactions to conflict are mutable; the impact and response of each country is shaded by its unique historical experience. Developing a new understanding of how conflict impacts lives globally is essential to improving the reaction of the international system and lessening the challenge conflict poses. Perhaps our most valuable action surrounding the dilemma of conflict is to further examine the factors motivating and sustaining conflict.

We hope that you enjoy the current issue and that it not only answers questions, but also raises your awareness of the multifaceted nature of conflict and the aspects surrounding it. We look forward to receiving your comments and hope that you actively engage in this debate.

Thank you very much,

Leonardo de Matos Silva Zywottek      Jennifer Cohen      Laura Grossman
Kristy Crabtree       Jennifer Dunham        Lindsay Wright         Monika Maslikowski