"Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding" Elective Course at ICAF

Ambassador McDonald along with Dr. Eileen Borris and others developed a course "Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding" for ICAF. The course began in January 2007, the first conflict resolution course ever offered by the U.S. military at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Ten students from seven countries representing the military and State Department participated in the inaugural class. For twelve weeks they learned about various aspects of conflict, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Three guest lecturers included Dr. Brian Polkinghorn from Salisbury University; Dr. Mohammud Abu-Nimer from American University; and Major General William Nash of the Council on Foreign Relations. At the conclusion of the semester, students gave group presentations applying what they had learned to case studies of conflicts in Kosovo, Sudan, Georgia, and Kashmir. The course received very positive reviews from students. One student, a Marine colonel just back from Iraq, told Dr. Borris after her lecture on trauma healing that if he knew in Iraq what he knows now, he would have done things totally differently. Another participant declared that the course should be required, rather than an elective.

With the success of the first run, ICAF invited the team back to teach the course again. The course was taught in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 semesters and will continue to be taught in 2008 and 2009.