Conflict resolution in Conflict resolution in ChinaChina

Di BrethertonDi BrethertonAustralian Centre for Peace and Australian Centre for Peace and

Conflict StudiesConflict StudiesAugust 1, 2007August 1, 2007

HistoryHistory

• Visit to China in 1980

• Work with UNESCO in lead up to UN International Year of a Culture of Peace 2000

• CPNN in six UN languages

• UNESCO and Chinese Government choose University of Nankai as Chinese partner in project

ExchangesExchanges

• Chinese delegation to Australia 2000

• Mark Wayland as young Ambassador to Nankai

• Carla Neale as young Ambassador to Nankai (publication of guidebook)

• Di Bretherton as visiting lecturer at Nankai

• Nankai decides to establish Conflict Resolution and Human Rights Centre

Where? Where?

• University of Nankai is one of five Universities funded by the central government

• University of Nankai is in Tianjin

• Conflict resolution is located in Department of International Relations

• One of the aims is for students to use English

Who?Who?

• There are two courses

• Conflict resolution for about 40 masters and PhD students

• Larger and more public lectures in Public Administration, with government officials attending in evenings

• Colleague Prof Han assists with language

What?What?

• Courses are similar to those taught here

• In English

• Notes on web and Chinese key words

• Small group work in Chinese

• Usual Chinese lecture is very long ( 2 to 3 hours with questions afterwards)

• Use of workshop method is new in China but works well

When? When?

• Start of May or October semester for 4 to 6 weeks

• First week of May and October is a national holiday……too many people

PoliticsPolitics

• Need to respect political sensitivities

• Indirect approach

• Students and staff raise sensitive issues themselves

• One child policy

Culture and conflictCulture and conflict

• History of patriarchy• Importance of guanxi (Siew Fang Law)• Emphasis on long term• Emphasis on relationships• Emphasis on obligations• Separation of domestic and international

peace in the language• Mixture of traditional and modern attitudes

Role Play: Two mothersRole Play: Two mothers

• This story is about a judge who is unorthodox but wise. He is called upon to try the following case:

• There is an aristocratic family who has a child. The mother is rather spoilt and likes to lead the good life, leaving the care of her son to a maid. The maid is very fond of the child and when there is a revolutionary uprising pretends he is her own son to protect him. During the upheaval the father is killed.

• Time passes and the politics change such that the son is now the heir to the family fortune.

• The case comes to court when both women (the maid who has taken care of the child and the biological mother) claim to be the mother of the child. The judge must decide who should have the child (and the fortune).

• Who do you think should have the child? • How does the judge decide?

Conflict Conflict （冲突）（冲突）• Conflict or disagreement between people Conflict or disagreement between people

is inevitableis inevitable• Some conflict may be desirableSome conflict may be desirable• Controversy Controversy （争议） （争议） may lead to may lead to

constructive debateconstructive debate• Repressing conflict and different ideas Repressing conflict and different ideas

may stifle may stifle （抑制、窒息）（抑制、窒息） changechange• However, chronic However, chronic （长期的） （长期的） unresolved unresolved

conflict is harmfulconflict is harmful

PuzzlePuzzle

• Remember the conflict styles ( based on Thomas)

• David Johnson uses shark, turtle, fox, teddy bear and owl to explain them

• Which one doesn’t fit in China?

• Why?