Peace Negotiator

August 13, 2008 8:48 AM

I would like to become a peace negotiator. I live in NY and my background is finance. I would appreciate any ideas on how to get started. I am planning on taking Harvard Negotiation and Dispute Resolution course in the fall, meeting people in the industry and going from there. I would appreciate any suggestions on organizations, jobs in NY or any other info you might have. Thank you! :)
posted by yulka13 to law & government (5 comments total)

I think this will help you - The Center for NonViolent Communication

they do very very good work.


good luck.
posted by watercarrier at 9:07 AM on August 13, 2008

A while back, one of my friends spent a year at Trinity in their Peace Studies program through a Rotary scholarship.
posted by milkrate at 10:21 AM on August 13, 2008

Depending upon your interests, becoming a peace negotiator has many different paths. The field of peace is split into many different groups. There are the ADR groups like the Harvard negotiations center, and there are the more "progressive" groups that work on transformative change. I would look to the Eastern Mennonite University or to George Mason's ICAR program to see some of these people. The ICAR program has a media section that has articles that faculty have written that will give you an idea of what the more transformative ideas are. Johan Galtung (one of the most well respected and sought out peace makers in this section of peace runs Transcend and the Transcend Peace University.) If you are looking for a more domestic focus on community disputes and the like there are programs for training mediators and facilitators. One such organization is the Northern Virginia Mediation Service. The courses here will teach you what you need to know to start working on your own. If you are looking for first tier (among world leaders etc.) peace negotiations these resources will be helpful with content but you will have to embed yourself within an organization (Department of State, UN, DOD, "becoming a diplomat", Foreign service etc.). Good luck on the transition we are always lookign for more converts in the peace world.
posted by elationfoundation at 12:24 PM on August 13, 2008

Books

The Anatomy of Peace

Chasing the Flame
posted by lalochezia at 1:38 PM on August 13, 2008

Thank you, everyone, for your contribution.

I was looking into different programs that offer peace negotiations or international mediation specializations, however I do not want to spend years in school, but would rather complement my studies with hands-on experience. I looked into Geneva School of Diplomacy. Does anyone have any info about the school? From the research that I have done, it seems that the school is prestigious in Europe. How competitive is the program? I also spoke with people from Columbia U, MS in Negotiations and Conflict Resolution.

Again, any feedback or information would be appreciated.

Thank you :)
posted by yulka13 at 12:38 PM on August 18, 2008