Conflict Management & Negotiation Studies in Israel
Introduction
India and Israel have a common threat - Terrorism. It needs to be tackled strategically and in a scientific way.
This article explores aspects of 'Conflict Management and Negotiation Studies' provided at an Israeli University. This article showcases the academic initiatives taken by the state of Israel to deal with such an intense threat. Also, this article explores the utility of the course as far as Indian students are concerned.
Firstly, the background of the prospective Indian candidate is important. He/She should be of Political Science or other similar backgrounds to understand the intensity involved in such courses. Israel has a history of dealing with complex challenges posed by it's neighborhood, similarly, India is placed in a troubled region with no neighboring country that can be called as stable. India has managed to work out diplomatic solutions to it's troubles but it had to indulged in conflicts as well & the years 1948, 1962, 1965, 1971 & 1999 are witness to that.
Thus, Conflict Management has become an important aspect of policy making of both these nations (India & Israel).
Firstly, the background of the prospective Indian candidate is important. He/She should be of Political Science or other similar backgrounds to understand the intensity involved in such courses. Israel has a history of dealing with complex challenges posed by it's neighborhood, similarly, India is placed in a troubled region with no neighboring country that can be called as stable. India has managed to work out diplomatic solutions to it's troubles but it had to indulged in conflicts as well & the years 1948, 1962, 1965, 1971 & 1999 are witness to that.
Thus, Conflict Management has become an important aspect of policy making of both these nations (India & Israel).
Current Developments
A recent example of excellent conflict management and negotiation skills has been shown by the Indian ruling party's (BJP) leader Mr. Ram Madhav. He was the one who handled the negotiations for government formation between PDP-BJP in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. It was unimaginable few days earlier as both these parties are ideologically opposite to each other. But, Mr. Ram Madhav made possible the impossible and formed the first coalition government of BJP in the troubled state. Now, BJP has shun it's earlier ways of doing politics and is seen as more aggressive party when it comes to politics in India.
There are some courses in India which talks about the area of conflict management but these courses lack the depth and international dimension which are needed to understand the complete picture. These courses are more influenced by Soviet era political ideas rather than present day Globalized politics. The courses are listed in [5-7]. Hence,to provide the larger picture and to offer the present day realities of the world, emphasis is put on Israeli courses rather than Indian.
When we review various literature on conflicts marring the Republic of India, no proper scientific approach has been taken and the story has been told to the masses depending on the ideology of the person writing the same. No emphasis has been given to the learning that India should take from past conflicts and how it should deal with similar situations in the future. It is a known fact that India lacks research and academic centers to specialize in this complex area of conflict management. The need is to have a state of the art center for the same which studies the past, analyze the present realities and subsequently comes up with future probable situations and there probable solutions.
Another complicated area of conflict which should be dealt with immediately has been the illegal immigration from the neighboring Muslim majority state of Bangladesh into India. It has threatened the whole demographics of the Indian states like Bengal and Assam. The result of this has been that there has been huge loss to the existing Indian population in these states as it has created loss of jobs and put huge strain on limited resources. As if this wasn't enough, the Government of India (GOI) hasn't been able to handle the situation since the ruling parties in these troubled states have been long indulging in vote bank politics resulting in political roadblocks for the GOI.
These are some of the 1000s of conflicts that India is marred with, and it is not at all doubted that all the conflicts in which India is involved is having more of an International flavor rather than domestic one. Thus, understanding global situations is important while dealing with conflicts within India. This course started by the Israeli University thus becomes an ideal one.
Another complicated area of conflict which should be dealt with immediately has been the illegal immigration from the neighboring Muslim majority state of Bangladesh into India. It has threatened the whole demographics of the Indian states like Bengal and Assam. The result of this has been that there has been huge loss to the existing Indian population in these states as it has created loss of jobs and put huge strain on limited resources. As if this wasn't enough, the Government of India (GOI) hasn't been able to handle the situation since the ruling parties in these troubled states have been long indulging in vote bank politics resulting in political roadblocks for the GOI.
These are some of the 1000s of conflicts that India is marred with, and it is not at all doubted that all the conflicts in which India is involved is having more of an International flavor rather than domestic one. Thus, understanding global situations is important while dealing with conflicts within India. This course started by the Israeli University thus becomes an ideal one.
Similarities & Contrasts
British Rule had huge impact on both India and Israel. One of the systems inherited from British by both these countries has been the system of Law. Also, British rule have ensured that religious tensions remain forever in these two countries (both nations were divided on the grounds of religion).
How this situation is handled or dealt with are totally different in these two countries, while India believes in the Ideas of Gandhi which emphasis on non-violence, Israel believes on more aggressive approach. Religiously speaking, while Israel believes in secularism and at the same time promotes Judaism as the religion of majority, in India, concept of Hindutva (way of living) is lost in the concept of secularism.
Right wing ideology don't find academic strength in India as the majority of top Universities in India are dominated by Left leaning people. Also, the right wing lobby of India lacks scientific and systematic approach, this is the area where Israel can help these lobbies to strengthen there hold in India.
How this situation is handled or dealt with are totally different in these two countries, while India believes in the Ideas of Gandhi which emphasis on non-violence, Israel believes on more aggressive approach. Religiously speaking, while Israel believes in secularism and at the same time promotes Judaism as the religion of majority, in India, concept of Hindutva (way of living) is lost in the concept of secularism.
Right wing ideology don't find academic strength in India as the majority of top Universities in India are dominated by Left leaning people. Also, the right wing lobby of India lacks scientific and systematic approach, this is the area where Israel can help these lobbies to strengthen there hold in India.
Conflict Management & Negotiation Studies at Bar-Ilan University Israel
Though the conflict scenarios in the state of India and Israel are to a large extent similar in nature, India lacks a proper academic approach to deal with the situation.
It is in this scenario that Bar-Ilian university takes the lead and can be a go to destination for many Indian students. For Courses launched by Bar-Ilan University, please check out the link : http://pconfl.biu.ac.il/en/node/1950
Courses are listed and how Indian students can benefit from the same in Indian context is shown. Courses are open for International Students and is taught in English:
1) From Identity-Based Conflict to Identity-Based Cooperation - This course talks about ARIA model.
1) From Identity-Based Conflict to Identity-Based Cooperation - This course talks about ARIA model.
2) Religion and Conflict Resolution - This becomes important in Indian context considering huge diversities and religious tensions in India.
3) Collective Memory, Narrative and Conflict [2] - Indian security and political professional needs to learn how to understand and present the collective memory. The sad time of Jewish holocaust and the way of presenting in arts and literature would become an important case study. One should never forget the history while formulating policy for the future, this has been always kept in mind by the state of Israel and has strengthen it to great extent.
4) Alternative Dispute Resolution and Culture - Mediation, arbitration and justice can be important because most of the matters go to International Court of Justice (ICJ) and also mediation and arbitration occurs in many issues related to India and Pakistan.
5) Field Work/Internship (3 credits, four weeks) at leading think tanks and practitioner - NGOs as well as guided excursions and meetings.
References:
[1] http://www1.biu.ac.il/indexE.php?id=33&pt=20&pid=4&level=1&cPath=4&type=1&news=2307
[2] http://pconfl.biu.ac.il/en/node/1968
[3] http://pconfl.biu.ac.il/en/node/1971
[4] http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pdp-bjp-government-in-jammu-and-kashmir-a-historic-opportunity-rss-mouthpiece-2065220
[5] http://www.conflict-resolution.org/sitebody/education/international/India.htm
[4] http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pdp-bjp-government-in-jammu-and-kashmir-a-historic-opportunity-rss-mouthpiece-2065220
[5] http://www.conflict-resolution.org/sitebody/education/international/India.htm
[6] https://programslive.iimcal.ac.in/calendar/managerial-leadership-and-conflict-resolution-1
[7] http://jvbi.ac.in/
[8] http://www.jnu.ac.in/sis/cipod/Courses_files/MA-Introduction%20to%20Peace%20and%20Conflict%20Resolution.pdf
[9] http://www.idcindia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=158
[10] http://www.arbitrationindia.org/htm/contact.htm
[11] http://www.idcindia.org/
[12] http://www.ipcs.org/
[13] http://www.mguniversity.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162&Itemid=115
[8] http://www.jnu.ac.in/sis/cipod/Courses_files/MA-Introduction%20to%20Peace%20and%20Conflict%20Resolution.pdf
[9] http://www.idcindia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84&Itemid=158
[10] http://www.arbitrationindia.org/htm/contact.htm
[11] http://www.idcindia.org/
[12] http://www.ipcs.org/
[13] http://www.mguniversity.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162&Itemid=115
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