From Crude Law to Civil Relations: The Dynamics and Potential Resolution of Intractable Conflict

Conflict Intelligence and Systemic Wisdom: Meta‐Competencies for Engaging Conflict in a Complex, Dynamic World

“…Dynamical systems theory (DST) offers a variety of new ways of researching (see Bui‐Wrozinska ; Coleman and Kugler ; Redding ), analyzing (see Burns ; Nowak et al ; Coleman ), and intervening in conflict (see Ricigliano ; Coleman, Redding, and Fisher , ; Coleman and Ricigliano ) using computer modeling and visualization tools (see Liebovitch, Vallacher, and Michaels ; Nowak et al ), and nonlinear monitoring and evaluation (see Wilson‐Grau and Britt ). Importantly, proponents of DST encourage combining new theoretical models with dynamical data collection and model verification and computer visualization tools in a manner that can help to refine models and discover new aspects of social dynamics (Vallacher and Nowak ).…”

“…The second core competency associated with employing systemic wisdom in conflict is the capacity to conduct and interpret complexity visualizations. In recent years, systems‐oriented peace builders have begun to visualize the complex systems in which they work in a variety of ways, including using mathematical modeling and computer visualization (e.g., Liebovitch et al ; Nowak et al ), cellular automata (e.g., Nowak et al ) and multiagent‐based modeling (Mussavi Rizi, Latek, and Geller ). Today, the most prevalent complexity visualization method used with conflict stakeholders is “causal loop diagramming” (CLD).…”

Ten Major Scientific Contributions that Promote a More Just, Peaceful, and Sustainable World

“…Mort thus labeled this a "crude" law, because, although the predicted effects were not always consistently evident, the findings from this research were highly robust. The crude law dynamics were subsequently validated through other research and mathematical modeling (see Nowak et al 2010), and today this is known as one of the first cases of studying self-reinforcing social dynamics in psychological research on conflict -an approach much more prevalent today with the advent of computer simulation modeling.…”

The Evolution of Violence

“…Dynamical models have been developed, however, for destructive social conflicts that have become protracted and seemingly impossible to resolve (e.g., Bartoli et al 2010;Liebovitch et al 2008;Liebovitch et al 2010;Nowak et al 2010;Vallacher et al 2010). These intractable conflicts hold tremendous potential for triggering violent behavior between individuals, groups, and nations.…”