Functional and Dysfunctional Themes in Successful Peace Agreements Arising From Intractable Conflicts

Functional and Dysfunctional Themes in Successful Peace Agreements Arising From Intractable Conflicts by Sharon Catherine Ryan MA, University of Alberta, 1990 BComm, University of Alberta, 1984 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy College of Management and Technology Walden University March 2017 Abstract An important challenge facing humanity today is to determine how to resolve intractable conflicts. Intractable conflicts are intensely violent conflicts that are difficult to resolve and last at least one generation. The purpose of this study was to explore the themes leaders used in resolving intractable conflicts by writing peace agreements, whichAn important challenge facing humanity today is to determine how to resolve intractable conflicts. Intractable conflicts are intensely violent conflicts that are difficult to resolve and last at least one generation. The purpose of this study was to explore the themes leaders used in resolving intractable conflicts by writing peace agreements, which achieved at least a ninety percent implementation rating by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. The research questions focused on the distribution of societal themes defined by Bar-Tal as present within societies experiencing an intractable conflict. This study used a multicase study approach and a directed content analysis of the narratives, chosen because the study began with an existing concept as a guide for determining initial codes. A categorization matrix was developed based on the existing concept and expanded to include one new category not initially included. The texts were coded by hand and the data were interpreted to reveal the findings, which show that the distribution of themes within narratives of the peace accords contained themes supported by Bar-Tal’s research as being functional in transitioning a society out of conflict and absent themes found as being dysfunctional in helping societies make this transition. Second, interpretation of the findings confirmed that knowledge found in transformational leadership literature extends knowledge of narratives of peace accords. A new model of peacemaking emerged from these findings entitled the peace accords transformational leadership model. If leaders understood how to craft narratives of peace, then positive social change would result from a quicker end to violent conflicts and lasting peace for the societies suffering within them. Functional and Dysfunctional Themes in Successful Peace Agreements Arising From Intractable Conflicts by Sharon Catherine Ryan MA, University of Alberta, 1990 BComm, University of Alberta, 1984 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy College of Management and Technology Walden University March 2017 Dedication For the most honorable man I’ve ever known, my father, who turned 90 years of age at the time of my completing this dissertation. Dad, you taught me how to love and serve humanity without prejudice. In keeping with the image of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which you served with honor, you lived your life with integrity and taught me how to respect others and to love God. To my mother, who continues to live her life with openness to everyone she encounters, thank you for nurturing an open mind in me. To all members of police and military forces who suspend their own prejudices and risk their lives to bring peace to societies caught in perpetual conflict, may you never lose heart in your fight for justice and peace. Please choose the way of peace . In the short term, there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread. But that never can, nor never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life your weapons will cause. Mother Teresa Acknowledgments I’d like to express my gratitude to the three committee members who never gave up on me: my chair, Dr. Jeffrey Prinster, who inspired me to pursue this topic of finding peace in war. His own courageous career as a U.S. Marine, his experience in conflict, including the Vietnam War, and his wisdom as a mentor could not have been a better fit for me throughout this PhD process. To Dr. Joseph Barbeau, whose advice was always timely, concise, and extremely helpful—thank you for keeping an open mind in relation to my exploratory research. And to Dr. James Bowman, thank you for your patience and respectful overview of my work. I’d like to express my appreciation to Walden University for offering flexible online programs and for sustaining open-mindedness among your professors to allow students like myself to pursue with passion topics related to positive social change.