Description
This is a recorded keynote address I delivered at the inaugural Peace and Conflict Studies journal conference on February 10, 2021.
In this address, I explored how reflective practice can make empirical research rigorous and innovative. More specifically, I proposed how to identify different types of artifacts (such as conflict timelines and mappings) as well as definable units of ideas (such as conflict episodes and resolution options) that become available as either intended products or unintended byproducts of peacebuilding and conflict resolution activities. The types of reflective practice under consideration include mediation, problem-solving workshops, reconciliation dialogues, and conflict resolution trainings. I then discussed how to use these artifacts and outputs as research data and make a theory-building exercise rigorous and innovative. To illustrate these concepts and propositions, I introduced lessons from my scholar-practitioner experience in conflict resolution dialogues across the Taiwan Strait as well as post-insurgency public mobilization efforts in Northeastern Nigeria under Boko Haram. Results of this project deepen and expand the application of action research to peacebuilding in conflict-affected societies.
Keywords
- action research,
- indicators,
- artifacts,
- reflective practice,
- peacebuilding,
- conflict resolution,
- China,
- Taiwan,
- Nigeria,
- Boko Haram
Disciplines
Publication Date
February 10, 2021
DOI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3WTEcqZoK8&t=648s
Citation Information
Arai, Tatsushi. 2021. Peace Research from within Peace Practice: Discovering the Untapped Potential of Reflective Practice for Research Innovation. Keynote Address at the Inaugural Peace and Conflict Studies Journal Conference Sponsored by NOVA Southeast University, Florida. February 10.