Segment 1: David Steele
On this edition of the Doug Noll Show, we have with us David Steele. David Steele has 22 years experience working with political, religious, and other civil society actors to effectively facilitate conflict transformation and interfaith coexistence within unstable, violence-prone situations of inter-ethnic and sectarian conflict. Since 2010, he has served as adjunct faculty in the Heller School. Initially, he was a guest lecturer and teaching assistant leading discussion sessions on International dialogue and mediation; Development, aid and coexistence; and Intercultural communication for conflict and development. Since 2011, he has supervised MA Coexistence and Conflict students in their practicum field experience and writing of MA theses and final internship reports. For the past two years, he has taught courses, currently including: Religion, Identity and Conflict (HS 243f) and 3D Security: Diplomacy, Development and Defense (HS 345f). In 2013 he led a workshop on Handling values-based conflicts during DEIS Impact week.
From a background in theology and peacemaking, David shares with Doug and the audience his fascinating journey. David spent 16 years as a pastor before changing fields and because he has always been interested in international affairs, he decided to pair up peacemaking and religion. Listen to see how he took a course in conflict resolution as a pastor at his church and where it lead him next.
Segment 2: Identity Drivers
Why conflicts are so intense with religion?
The role of identity drivers always in combination with substantive drivers lead to conflict. When you have this combination, you deal with an identity formation process that becomes fixed and leads to threat. When we feel threat, we shut down or become vulnerable and defensive. In t his segment, David and Doug discuss his work in Serbia and helps us define reconciliation process and what happens with this was achieved.
Segment 3: Reconciliation of Religions
One of the projects David has been working on has been working with the African Union in Sudan and South Sudan which is one of those troubled spots of the world that cannot seem to find peace. David shares the nature of his work there by explaining the role of the African Union as part of the agreement that resulted in the independence of South Sudan. The Union came a conclusion hat the formal agreement process could not be fully implemented on what they agreed upon unless the population agreed and backed this. The support of the civil society was very important. To do this, they need to address religion and decided a reconciliation is important for Christian and Muslim religions. David was invited to design a program and implement this.
Segment 4: Globalization
To what degree has globalization shrunk of our planet?
Globalization has changed our world immensely but not necessarily in a positive or negative manner. Listen to this interesting segment on how media and social media have become a way to communicate
Please click the link to listen to this fascinating show http://wsradio.com/010815-conflict-transformation-societies-affected-extremist-religions/