By Anne-Marie Kent Finding hope in seemingly hopeless situations is the work of those dedicated to dispute resolution. As newspapers reported escalating Middle East violence, UMass Boston's Dispute Resolution Program presented the Ben and Sylvia Slomoff Lecture by Harvard professor Herbert Kelman. Although Dr. Kelman did not address current events, he did suggest that long-term resolution of the conflict might be achieved through negotiation at the level of national identity.
National identity is a powerful part of the Middle East equation.
Despite this powerfully divisive crisis, Dr. Kelman said that the concept of negotiating at the national level provides hope for change. According to Kelman, national identities are to a large extent constructed and they can be redefined. For example, in working with Israeli and Palestinian groups facilitated by Drs. It was a unique moment for faculty and students.