About CIDCM: Tools

Central to CIDCM's mission is the creation of tools to help societies develop their own strategies for transforming conflicts and creating sustainable futures. Based on the insights of the Center's researchers and practitioners, these tools can be applied in a variety of training and educational environments. They support hands-on interactions, which allow users to compare alternative futures (CASES), participate in simulations to test possible outcomes (ICONS) or to assume the role of the "other" in exploring joint solutions to communal conflicts (ARIA).

Alternative Futures Scenarios: The CASES (Conflict Analysis through the Structured Evaluation of Scenarios) [hyperlink to CASES report] tool provides comparative scenarios by systematically analyzing cases from the comprehensive datasets housed at CIDCM. A CASES report identifies five comparison cases, designed to illuminate potential future trajectories of the subject case to allow users to understand alternative futures, and thus understand not only the ways their own conflict may play out, but what timely interventions can do to alter negative outcomes.

Interactive Simulations: The ICONS Project develops customized simulations where key stakeholders are identified and tasked negotiating solutions to contentious political issues. These simulations typically include a role play component, so that participants must assume another identity, and grapple with complex problems from a perspective other than their own. These simulations are particularly effective in developing collaborative and cross-disciplinary thinking, as students work in teams to build broad consensus for their plans. ICONS simulation developers work with area experts to shape specific exercises, which can then be delivered face-to-face or via the Web.

ARIA Conflict Transformation Model: Used by the Partners in Conflict and Partners in Peacebuilding Projects, ARIA is a conflict resolution process that moves participants from an initial antagonistic orientation (adversarial stage) through a deeper understanding of the human needs behind rhetorical arguments of the other (reflexive stage), to collaborative negotiation and consensus building (integrative stage), and finally to joint constructive action to mitigate or transform the conflict toward sustainable and constructive development (action stage). CIDCM typically works in partnership with local organizations to adapt the methodology to local needs and culture, while training conflict partners to build the skills needed to continue peacebuilding initiatives. ARIA is best used as part of a multi-track process, beginning with informal opinion leaders, feeding into official negotiations and ensuring broad engagement of stakeholders at all stages of peacebuilding.

Integrative Mediation Model: The Partners in Conflict and Partners in Peacebuilding Projects use this model to bring together decision makers to address conflict at any level of society. It is a collaborative, in that the mediator facilitates a process whereby parties first identify the issues and underlying needs, and then work together to address those needs to mutual benefit. The mediator's refrains from inserting any partisan bias on issues or outcomes, ensuring the parties feel ownership for the agreement reached and full responsibility for its implementation. CIDCM typically works with partner organizations to adapt the model to local culture and needs, building capacity for dispute resolution to prevent violence, reduce the load on judicial systems, and expand social capital.

Ho'oponopono Community Peacebuilding Model: Derived from traditional Polynesian practices, the Partners in Conflict and Partners in Peacebuilding Projects use this community reconciliation methodology, which brings community stakeholders together in a facilitated process. First, perspectives on the problem or crisis facing the community as a whole are gathered, then each member reflects on his/her own role either in contributing to the problem or in failing to prevent it, thus providing a basis for reconciliation, consensus building and implementation to create a better future. CIDCM typically works in partnership with local organizations to adapt the methodology to local needs and culture, with partners co-facilitating the process. It can be applied at community, organizational or even national levels, as long as there is already a commitment from the parties to continue living or working together.