This chapter describes the ways in which conflicts escalate through increases in the intensity of... more This chapter describes the ways in which conflicts escalate through increases in the intensity of conflict and severity of tactics used to wage it. Escalation is driven by and reinforces three enduring changes: in people’s psychological states, in the way groups function—both internally and vis-a-vis each other—and in the structure and function of the larger, heterogeneous community. This chapter integrates first-hand accounts by Iraqi residents with the rich empirical literature on conflict escalation dynamics to map the trajectory of violence of Baghdad’s neighborhoods. It lays the conceptual groundwork for understanding conflict resilience as a process of managing conflict escalation, thus limiting the formation of sectarian militants within bounded areas, and preventing violent sectarian attacks from militant groups outside those areas.
Peace work in urban arenas faces two realities. First, gangs are a permanent feature of urban lif... more Peace work in urban arenas faces two realities. First, gangs are a permanent feature of urban life (at least for now) in all major cities around the world. Second, while the majority of youth gangs are not involved in transnational organized crime, some gangs are becoming engaged in criminal enterprises normally associated with better organized and more sophisticated crime syndicates.
This Chapter integrates multiple empirical explanations about the causes of sectarian and ethnic ... more This Chapter integrates multiple empirical explanations about the causes of sectarian and ethnic conflict and settles on constructivism as the “middle-ground” theoretical framework for introducing the nature of religious and tribal identity in Iraq. This Chapter explores several deeply rooted causes of sectarian conflict in Iraq including the nature of religious and tribal identity and the Sunni–Shi’a fracture to which many attribute sectarian violence. However, the Chapter concludes by pointing toward more proximate causes of violent conflict in Iraq: the cultural context of the modern Iraqi state, influential roles played by religious and political figures, and the structural, political, and economic sources of internal conflict present in Iraq prior to the US invasion.
This chapter explores three enablers of adaptation related to information and communication: sour... more This chapter explores three enablers of adaptation related to information and communication: sources, spaces, and narratives. Trusted sources of information enable people to respond flexibly and quickly during times of change. Collective adaptation in crisis is particularly affected by the sense-making and communicative activities of leaders. Just as important are spaces for sharing information, which reinforce trust and communication during crisis and self-organize as new events unfolded. Spaces for sharing information helped people keep in touch with each other during crisis, quash divise rumors, self-organize as new events unfolded, and build trust. Finally, group narratives reinforce group solidarity and set the boundaries for “appropriate” responses to events in general, including large disturbances, crises, and conflicts. How groups of people interpret events that happen determines how they cope with them.
U.S. policy toward Mexico has been influenced by a “drug war” frame that has left little rhetoric... more U.S. policy toward Mexico has been influenced by a “drug war” frame that has left little rhetorical and operational room for creative multisectoral strategies to stem the violence and address its causes. This article proposes conflict analysis, a lens for viewing conflict that brings into focus a multilevel, integrative diagnosis of the violence in Mexico and supports recent evolutions in Plan Mérida toward a more holistic peacebuilding approach.
This chapter describes the ways in which conflicts escalate through increases in the intensity of... more This chapter describes the ways in which conflicts escalate through increases in the intensity of conflict and severity of tactics used to wage it. Escalation is driven by and reinforces three enduring changes: in people’s psychological states, in the way groups function—both internally and vis-a-vis each other—and in the structure and function of the larger, heterogeneous community. This chapter integrates first-hand accounts by Iraqi residents with the rich empirical literature on conflict escalation dynamics to map the trajectory of violence of Baghdad’s neighborhoods. It lays the conceptual groundwork for understanding conflict resilience as a process of managing conflict escalation, thus limiting the formation of sectarian militants within bounded areas, and preventing violent sectarian attacks from militant groups outside those areas.
Peace work in urban arenas faces two realities. First, gangs are a permanent feature of urban lif... more Peace work in urban arenas faces two realities. First, gangs are a permanent feature of urban life (at least for now) in all major cities around the world. Second, while the majority of youth gangs are not involved in transnational organized crime, some gangs are becoming engaged in criminal enterprises normally associated with better organized and more sophisticated crime syndicates.
This Chapter integrates multiple empirical explanations about the causes of sectarian and ethnic ... more This Chapter integrates multiple empirical explanations about the causes of sectarian and ethnic conflict and settles on constructivism as the “middle-ground” theoretical framework for introducing the nature of religious and tribal identity in Iraq. This Chapter explores several deeply rooted causes of sectarian conflict in Iraq including the nature of religious and tribal identity and the Sunni–Shi’a fracture to which many attribute sectarian violence. However, the Chapter concludes by pointing toward more proximate causes of violent conflict in Iraq: the cultural context of the modern Iraqi state, influential roles played by religious and political figures, and the structural, political, and economic sources of internal conflict present in Iraq prior to the US invasion.
This chapter explores three enablers of adaptation related to information and communication: sour... more This chapter explores three enablers of adaptation related to information and communication: sources, spaces, and narratives. Trusted sources of information enable people to respond flexibly and quickly during times of change. Collective adaptation in crisis is particularly affected by the sense-making and communicative activities of leaders. Just as important are spaces for sharing information, which reinforce trust and communication during crisis and self-organize as new events unfolded. Spaces for sharing information helped people keep in touch with each other during crisis, quash divise rumors, self-organize as new events unfolded, and build trust. Finally, group narratives reinforce group solidarity and set the boundaries for “appropriate” responses to events in general, including large disturbances, crises, and conflicts. How groups of people interpret events that happen determines how they cope with them.
U.S. policy toward Mexico has been influenced by a “drug war” frame that has left little rhetoric... more U.S. policy toward Mexico has been influenced by a “drug war” frame that has left little rhetorical and operational room for creative multisectoral strategies to stem the violence and address its causes. This article proposes conflict analysis, a lens for viewing conflict that brings into focus a multilevel, integrative diagnosis of the violence in Mexico and supports recent evolutions in Plan Mérida toward a more holistic peacebuilding approach.
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Papers by Ami Carpenter