S-CAR's monthly activity recaps highlight the ongoing contributions being made by S-CAR students, faculty, and alumni to the field of conflict analysis and resolution. Each activity recap includes publications, presentations, and awards from the previous month.
Are you a member of the S-CAR community? Send your publication, presentation, and award updates to scarlib@gmu.edu so that we can include them in our activity recaps.
Summary
The S-CAR community closed out 2018 and welcomed in 2019 with numerous awards, publications, media appearances, and presentations. During December 2018 and January 2019, five members of the S-CAR community received awards and recognitions. Two edited books were published, including one edited by Susan F. Hirsch and Agnieszka Paczynska on the ethics of field-based courses in conflict zones. In addition, S-CAR authors published fifteen book chapters and nine journal articles and reports. Numerous S-CAR faculty members, alumni, and students wrote and/or were featured in twenty-six newspaper articles, while four members of the S-CAR community made media appearances on a variety of subjects, including the Syrian civil war and Saudi-U.S. relations. Members of the S-CAR community gave a variety of presentations at conferences and events throughout December and January, including Remaz Abdelgader, who spoke at the 2019 Women’s March in Washington, D.C.
Awards and Recognitions
Agnieszka Paczynska was named Visiting Professor 2018-2019 at UMCS (University of Maria Curie-Skłodowska) in Lublin, Poland.
Juliette Shedd and David J. Smith, Adjunct Faculty, MS ‘09, served as guest editors for the December 2018 issue of ACResolution.
Sudha Rajput, PhD ‘12, was named a “Star Award Recipient – 2018” at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Pamina Firchow has been awarded a “2019-20 Jean Monnet Postdoctoral Fellowship” at the European University Institute in Florence.
Academic Publications
Books
Agnieszka Paczynska and Susan F. Hirsch (Eds.), Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Peter N. Stearns (Ed.), History of Peace (HIST 387) instructor, Peacebuilding Through Dialogue: Education, Human Transformation, and Conflict Resolution. George Mason University Press, December 2018.
Book Chapters
Agnieszka Paczynska and Susan F. Hirsch, “Introduction: The Benefits and Challenges of Field-Based Courses in Conflict Zones.” In Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Susan F. Hirsch and Agnieszka Paczynska, “Ethics and Field-Based Courses: How to Prepare Students for the Challenges of Practice.” In Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Leslie Dwyer and Alison Castel, PhD ‘16, “Framing ‘Experience’ in International Field-Based Learning.” In Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Pushpa Iyer, PhD ‘07, “Field-Based Courses as Transformative Education: The Role of Practical Ethics as a Framework.” In Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Patricia Maulden and Lisa Elaine Shaw, MS ‘11, “Field-Based Service Learning Pedagogy and Its Effects.” In Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Gina Cerasani, PhD ‘15, and rj nickels, PhD candidate, “When Context and Pretext Collide: Reflective Practice as an Ethical Framework for Field-Based Learning.” In Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Alex Cromwell, PhD candidate, “Cultivating Transformation in Field-Based Courses.” In Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Susan F. Hirsch and Agnieszka Paczynska, “Conclusion: Best Practices and Next Directions.” In Conflict Zone, Comfort Zone: Ethics, Pedagogy, and Effecting Change in Field-Based Courses. Ohio University Press, January 2019.
Peter N. Stearns, History of Peace (HIST 387) instructor, “Dialogue: An Introduction” and “Conclusion.” In Peacebuilding Through Dialogue: Education, Human Transformation, and Conflict Resolution. George Mason University Press, December 2018.
Susan Allen, “Modes of Peacemaking Dialogue.” In Peacebuilding Through Dialogue: Education, Human Transformation, and Conflict Resolution. George Mason University Press, December 2018.
Andrea Bartoli, former S-CAR Dean (2009-13), “Dialogue and Mutual Recognition: The Practice of Interreligious Encounters.” In Peacebuilding Through Dialogue: Education, Human Transformation, and Conflict Resolution. George Mason University Press, December 2018.
David J. Smith, MS ‘09, “Peacebuilding as a Means to Global Citizenry.” In Study Abroad Opportunities for Community College Students and Strategies for Global Learning. IGI Global, January 2019.
Cheryl Duckworth, PhD ‘08, “Learning after 9/11: Muslim Students Speak for Themselves in the U.S.” In The Changing Dynamics of Terrorism and Violent Extremism: An Analysis (Volume I). HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies, December 10, 2018.
Susan F. Hirsch, “Experiential Learning in Conflict Resolution Education: An Overview.” In Contemporary Issues in Conflict Resolution. University of Malta: Centre for the Study and Practice of Conflict Resolution, December 2018.
Journal Articles
Juliette Shedd and David J. Smith, Adjunct Faculty, MS ‘09, “Launching a Conflict Resolution Career.” ACResolution, 18(3), 4–5, December 2018.
Vandy Kanyako, PhD ‘10, “Gas Flaring, Environmental Degradation and Community Agitation in West Africa.” Journal of Transdisciplinary Peace Praxis, 1(1), 85–104, January 2019.
Cheryl Duckworth, PhD ‘08, Tom Albano, Darby Munroe, and Mike Garver, “'Students Can Change a School': Understanding the Role of Youth Leadership in Building a School Culture of Peace.” Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 1–15, January 22, 2019.
Alex McDermott, MS ‘18, Christian Taylor, PhD student, MS ’18, and Tanner Semmelrock, “The Cost of Defection: The Consequences of Defecting from Al-Shabaab.” International Journal of Conflict and Violence, January 2019.
Dean Pruitt, Distinguished Scholar in Residence, “What Have We Learned about Negotiation from Donald Trump?” Negotiation Journal, 35(1), 87–91, January 2019.
Reports
Adina Friedman, Adjunct Faculty, PhD ‘06, “Tunisia Following the Arab Spring, and Its Relations with Israel [in Hebrew].” For Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, January 2019.
Mohammed Cherkaoui, PhD ‘12, “The 3-R Dilemma: Religiosity of Peace, Realism of War, and Regressed Sub-Identities in the Middle East [Part 1]” (December 3, 2018); “The 3-R Dilemma: Religiosity of Peace, Realism of War, and Regressed Sub-Identities in the Middle East [Part 2]” (December 12, 2018); and “Social Capital Between State and Society in Morocco: An Outside-In Reflection” (January 26, 2019). For Al Jazeera Centre for Studies.
S-CAR in the News
Walid Jawad, MS ’15, wrote multiple articles for Al Arabiya, including “Betraying the American People: Congress Kissing Israel’s Ring” (January 11, 2019); “Is the New Congress American Enough?” (January 7, 2019); “New Year, New Congress and Renewed Political Disaster for the Middle East” (December 31, 2018); “My Wish for 2019: Conflict and More Orange Peel” (December 27, 2018); “The Curious Case of a US Government Shutdown” (December 23, 2018); “The Cyber War That is Raging in Your Pocket” (December 19, 2018); “Trump’s ‘Russiagate’ and the Looming Iran War” (December 5, 2018); and “George H.W. Bush Answering the Call of Duty: Liberating Kuwait” (December 2, 2018).
Talha Kose, PhD ‘09, wrote multiple articles for Daily Sabah, including “What the Safe Zone Plan in Northeastern Syria Means” (January 24, 2019); “Why the Iran Nuclear Deal Became an Epic Failure” (January 18, 2019); “Washington Officials' Mission Impossible in the Middle East” (January 11, 2019); and “Political Settlement on the Horizon for Syria” (January 3, 2019).
The Al Jazeera Centre for Studies covered a keynote delivered by Mohammed Cherkaoui, PhD ‘12, at the Rabat Policy Forum in “AJCS Fellow Delivers a Keynote Speech at Rabat Policy Forum 2019.”
Borislava Manojlovic’s presentation at “The Light and Shadow of Historical Trauma Conference” was covered in “Dr. Borislava Manojlovic Presents Her Research at The Light and Shadow of Historical Trauma Conference” by Mason Korea News on December 20, 2018.
Mariam Aburdeineh profiled BS student Seong Jae Shin in “Inspired by a Revolution, Mason Student Finds His Passion” for Mason News, published on January 8, 2019.
Mariam Aburdeineh profiled Amadu Koroma, BS ‘18, in “He Lived Through War, Now He’s Living for a Future” for Mason News, published on January 22, 2019. The profile quoted Patricia Maulden.
S-CAR’s Dialogue & Difference Project was highlighted in an article by Mariam Aburdeineh titled “Dialogue & Difference Shows Religion and Politics Aren’t Off the Table,” published by Mason News on January 22, 2019. The article quoted S-CAR faculty members Mara Schoeny and Patricia Maulden. The article also quoted BS students Nora Malatinszky and Kyle Ferris.
John Grover, MS ‘18, was profiled in “Ready to Embark on Their Next Adventures” by Mason News, published on December 19, 2018.
David J. Smith, MS ‘09, wrote “Practice Informed by Research: Cross Cultural Approaches Informing Mediation” for Mediate.com (December 2018). His article highlighted research done by Laura Mahan, PhD student, and Joshua Mahuna, MS student. Smith also wrote “Displaced People Are a Worldwide Epidemic” for The Post Star, published on December 6, 2018, and “Lesson from the California Wildfires: Empathy for Others” for The Baltimore Sun, published on December 3, 2018.
Mandar Apte, Visiting Scholar, and Suzanne Reardon, MS student, wrote “At Peace Summit in India, Police and Activists from the U.S. Learn from Gandhi’s Legacy” for S-CAR News, published on December 18, 2018.
Nora Malatinszky, BS student, wrote a profile of Jenny Smith, MS student, titled “Course Abroad Takes S-CAR Master’s Student Back to Ukraine” for S-CAR News, published on December 18, 2018. The article quoted Karina Korostelina.
In an article for S-CAR News titled “Unexpected Travels from Track II to Track I: The Kartarpur Peace Corridor Between India and Pakistan Becomes Reality,” Christel McDonald wrote about the efforts of Amb. (ret.) John McDonald, S-CAR Advisory Board Member Emeritus, to secure the establishment of the Kartarpur Peace Corridor between India and Pakistan.
Tamara S. Hamilton, MS student, wrote “CMM Learning Exchange 2018: Reflection from Tamara Smiley Hamilton” for the Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict and Complexity (AC4), published on December 6, 2018.
Roj Eli Zalla, PhD candidate, wrote “Could Kurd-Turkey Ties Improve with a US Exit from Syria?” for Rudaw, published on January 5, 2019.
Al Fuertes, Adjunct Faculty, was profiled by Marlys Weaver-Stoesz in “Fuertes and Neufeld Smiths receive AMBS Alumni Ministry and Service Recognition” for Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary on January 29, 2019.
Television and Podcast Presentations
Television
Ibrahim Fraihat, PhD ‘06, joined Al Jazeera’s “Inside Story” for a segment titled “Why Would Saudi Arabia Rebuild Syria?” on December 25, 2018.
Marc Gopin appeared on Voice of America Russia’s show «Настоящее время. Итоги» [“Present Tense. Results.”] on January 26, 2019. He also joined Orient News on December 5, 2018, for a segment titled “What Is the Difference Between Radical Islam and Islam?”
Mohammed Cherkaoui, PhD ‘12, joined Al Jazeera on December 3, 2018, to offer “A Response to Robert Fisk's Theory on Saudi-US Relations.”
Podcasts
Tatsushi Arai, PhD ’05, joined the Social Change Career Podcast in an episode titled “The ‘Jackie Chan’ of Peace. The Extraordinary Life and Career of Dr. Tatsushi Arai.” The episode was aired on January 23, 2019.
S-CAR Events, Presentations, and Public Lectures
Agnieszka Paczynska presented a paper, “Emerging Donors and Post-Conflict Settings: The New Politics of Reconstruction,” at the Revisiting South-South/BRICS/Emerging Powers Investment and Development Aid workshop at George Mason University in Fairfax on January 31, 2019.
Daniel E. Agbiboa gave a lecture titled “Eyes on the Streets: Civilian Joint Task Force and the Surveillance of Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria” at the International Symposium on “African Potentials and the Future of Humanity” organized by The Center for African Area Studies at Kyoto University in Japan on January 27, 2019. He also served as chair of the ASA Panel IX-0-1 on “Decolonizing African Studies: The Potentials of Decolonial Theory and Praxis” at the 61st Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association (ASA) in Atlanta (November 29–December 1).
Thomas E. Flores gave a presentation titled “Theories of Democratic Change Phase III: Transitions from Conflict” at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on December 18, 2018. The presentation was based on his report for USAID by the same name, co-authored with Jennifer Dresden and Irfan Nooruddin of Georgetown University.
Remaz Abdelgader, BA ’17, gave a speech at the 2019 Women’s March at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., where she talked about her journey to activism and the inspiration she takes from her Muslim faith to fight injustice. She called on the audience to speak out against injustice and oppression globally.
Borislava Manojlovic gave a presentation titled “Historical Narrative and Representations of the Collective Trauma of Guernica” at “Recognition Reparation Reconciliation – The Light and Shadow of Historical Trauma Conference” at Stellenbosch University in South Africa (December 5–9, 2018).