As the subtitle indicates, this book is about concepts and techniques for conflict transformation. But as the title shows, it is especially about getting more people involved, and about taking culture seriously. The focus on culture is written into the title indirectly, but strikingly – by the slant mark and the two qualifiers of ‘diplomacy’. At first sight one may be inclined to ask why such a double description was chosen. One realises quite soon, however, that the rationale was a strong cultural sensitivity, which led to a combination of the terms used in the North and the South. Protracted social conflicts, which occur in both halves of the globe, are almost always based on a lack of respect for culture, race, religion or language – mentioned in this order on page 2. The crucial importance of bridging cultural divides is therefore stressed (pp. 7-8). Conflict is a social phenomenon, ‘inseparable from the cultural frameworks in which it has emerged’, and in dealing with conflict, facilitators have to put aside their own cultural preconceptions. They have to elicit from the parties what their perceptions are, and what they regard as a suitable process through which the conflict might be addressed. Such a cultural open-mindedness is promoted and practised throughout the book. A chapter is devoted to ‘Mapping Cultures’ and developing ‘Strategies for Effective Intercultural Conflict Resolution’. A very useful ‘Wheel of Culture Map’ is used to help us understand the contexts in which cultural similarities and differences function. Suggestions are given for initiating dialogue and negotiation cross-culturally, and for responding with appropriate flexibility. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding why people of another culture think and act as they do.
This book can also be borrowed from the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/secondtrackcitiz0000unse