UCI studies conflict complexity

Susan Menning

Many Daily Pilot readers may not realize it, but Orange County is a

world stage for vigorous discussions about peace building, democracy

and human rights.

That’s because at UC Irvine, social and political scientists are

immersed in research and educational programs focused on making the

world a safer, more peaceful and humane place. They are taking a

critical look at global issues such as instability in Iraq and

Afghanistan. And they’re doing so with students and community

volunteers, and through interdisciplinary research centers such as

the Center for the Study of Democracy, the Center for Citizen

Peacebuilding and the Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies.

“One of our goals is to introduce students to the complexities of

issues such as conflict in the Middle East or U.S. relations with

North Korea,” explains Barbara Dosher, dean of social sciences at

UCI. “But just studying how the world is changing is not enough. Our

students are actually involved in these peace and democracy-building

processes through our research and outreach efforts.”

UCI’s Center for the Study of Democracy, now in its 10th year,

sponsors research and education aimed at understanding how democracy

develops around the world and how to strengthen it in nations with

established democracies, such as the United States. The center sends

graduate students -- “democracy fellows” -- across the globe to

participate in and learn about the processes of democracy. One

student was among the first nongovern- mental workers to enter

post-war Iraq, where she helped organize focus groups to learn how

Iraqi citizens felt about the defeat of Saddam Hussein. Another

student worked with former President Jimmy Carter on election

observations in Nicaragua. Yet another, a Vietnamese-American, went

back to her native country to assist with the first public- opinion

surveys ever conducted in Vietnam.

The center also hosts world leaders who share their own

experiences of building democracy. Recent guest speakers include

former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and former prime minister of

Spain, Jose Maria Aznar.

UCI researchers also examine conflict resolution and peace

building. The Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies is

dedicated to promoting scholarly, student and public understanding of

international peace and conflict. The Center for Citizen

Peacebuilding takes a more grassroots’ approach, looking at how

citizens participate in activities that help prevent violent conflict

and, if violence occurs, how to promote reconciliation and a

sustainable peace. Center volunteers, much like foot soldiers,

participate in peace-building efforts in Orange County and Los

Angeles and communities in Northern Ireland, the Middle East,

Bosnia/Herzegovina and the former Soviet Union.

On May 21, the center will give its UCI Citizen Peacebuilder Award

to Shirin Ebadi, a role model and inspiration to millions in Iran.

Ebadi, an Iranian human rights lawyer, was the first female judge in

her country and the only Iranian ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize

(2003). She will be honored for her “citizen advocacy” of democracy

and human rights, and will give a public talk, “The Challenges to

Women, Children and Human Rights Today,” as part of the public

presentation at 6 p.m. at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel in Costa

Mesa. More information: (949) 824-8468.

UCI is also hosting a number of other public events related to

peace and democracy building.

On May 20, Afghan-American author Dr. Khaled Hosseini will visit

campus to talk about his best-selling novel, “The Kite Runner.” This

fictional account of two Afghan boys gives readers insight into that

country’s turbulent history and ongoing class struggles. More

information: (949) 824-3596.

Addressing human rights from a more individual point of view,

UCI’s Humanitech will assemble a group of scholars and activists from

the humanities, law, science, philosophy and social ecology for a

one-day conference May 12. From the role of the Internet in spreading

information about human rights abuses to the loss of privacy suffered

in the name of security, participants will discuss the positive and

negative impacts of changing technolo- gies. More: (949) 824-3638.

To learn more about the buildup to war in Iraq, please join us at

Global Peace and Conflict Studies’ May 5 lecture by Hans Blix,

“Controlling Weapons of Mass Destruction: Lessons from Iraq.” The

former United Nations chief weapons inspector and chair of the

commission on weapons of mass destruction -- noted for his calm,

pragmatic approach to diplomacy -- will share lessons learned during

WMD inspections in Iraq prior to military action by the U.S. and its

allies. Free and open to the public; 3 p.m., Social Sciences Lecture

Hall, Room 100. More: (949) 824-2511.

And for additional information on the wide range of arts, cultural

and educational programs at UCI, please visit

www.today.uci.edu/calendar.

* SUSAN MENNING is assistant vice chancellor of communications at

UC Irvine. She can be reached at uciconnectuci.edu.