Communication in an Era of Global Conflicts assesses trends and issues in communication and their implications for conflicts in the African context. In doing so, the various chapters draw from culture, tradition, folklore, communication and conflict theories, principles and strategies, and from systems approach to conflict resolution. The underlying assumption of all the chapters is the pivotal role of communication--new media, traditional mass communication, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, and communication technologies--in conflict and conflict resolution. This book is unique for its multidimensional perspectives, a long overdue addition to the growing literature on conflicts in Africa.

Throughout the world, cultural and racial clashes remain a major hurdle to development and progress. Though some areas are experiencing successful intercultural communications which pave the way for peaceful negotiations, there are still many regions experiencing severe turmoil. Impact of Communication and the Media on Ethnic Conflict focuses on both the positive and negative outcomes of communication and media usage, as well as the overall perceptions of these elements, within conflicting populations. Featuring theoretical perspectives on various intergroup interaction experiences within contemporary ethnic controversies, this publication will appeal to scholars, researchers, professors, and practitioners interested in ethnic studies, conflict resolution, communications, and global peace building.

Central to a transformational approach to conflict is the idea that conflicts must be viewed as embedded within broader relational patterns, and social and discursive structures—and must be addressed as such. This implies the need for systemic change at generative levels, in order to create genuine transformation at the level of particular conflicts. Central, also, to this book is the idea that the origins of transformation can be momentary, or situational, small-scale or micro-level, as well as bigger and more systemic or macro-level. Micro-level changes involve shifts and meaningful changes in communication and related patterns that are created in communication between people. Such transformative changes can radiate out into more systemic levels, and systemic transformative changes can radiate inwards to more micro- levels. This book engages this transformative framework. Within this framework, this book pulls together current work that epitomizes, and highlights, the contribution of communication scholarship, and communication centered approaches to conflict transformation, in local/community, regional, environmental and global conflicts in various parts of the world. The resulting volume presents an engaging mix of scholarly chapters, think pieces, and experiences from the field of practice. The book embraces a wide variety of theoretical and methodological approaches, as well as transformative techniques and processes, including: narrative, dialogic, critical, cultural, linguistic, conversation analytic, discourse analytic, and rhetorical. This book makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing dialogue across and between disciplines and people on how to transform conflicts creatively, sustainably, and ethically.

The SAGE Handbook of Conflict Communication: Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice is the first resource to synthesize key theories, research, and practices of conflict communication in a variety of contexts. Editors John Oetzel and Stella Ting-Toomey, as well as expert researchers in the field, emphasize constructive conflict management from a communication perspective which places primacy in the message as the focus of conflict research and practice.

As communication and leadership skills are both essential for personal and organizational success, new approaches and management styles are continuously being sought. Emerging technologies, automation opportunities, and a diverse workforce are just a few of the challenges business professionals must be prepared for in today’s workplace environment. The Handbook of Research on Strategic Communication, Leadership, and Conflict Management in Modern Organizations provides emerging research exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of managing and solving conflicts, and introduces updated approaches for refining communication and leadership skills. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as emotional intelligence, organizational crises, and virtual team management, this book is ideally designed for professionals, leaders, managers, and human resource specialists seeking current research on developing the skills and consciousness needed to effectively communicate, negotiate, and collaborate in diverse organizations.

Pursuing an interdisciplinary approach, this book offers detailed insights into the empirical relationships between overall social key figures of states and cultures in the fields of information and communication technology (ICT) (digital divide/inequality), the economy, education and religion. Its goal is to bridge the ‘cultural gap’ between computer scientists, engineers, economists, social and political scientists by providing a mutual understanding of the essential challenges posed and opportunities offered by a global information and knowledge society. In a sense, the historically unprecedented technical advances in the field of ICT are shaping humanity at different levels and forming a hybrid (intelligent) human-technology system, a so-called global superorganism. The main innovation is the combined study of digitization and globalization in the context of growing social inequalities, collapse, and sustainable development, and how a convergence towards a kind of global culture could take place. Accordingly, the book discusses the spread of ICT, Internet Governance, the balance between the central concentration of power and the extent of decentralized power distribution, the inclusion or exclusion of people and states in global communication processes, and the capacity for global empathy or culture.

Over seven chapters the book shows how international communication has been shaped by the structure of international political power and how these means of global communication have in turn been strategic tools for the exercise of international political power. There are separate chapters on global news flows, the international trade in cultural products (films, books, advertising, recorded music, periodicals and books), and government propaganda activities. The politics of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) are analysed.

In order for an organization to thrive, it is essential to develop key strategies for interaction, leadership, and management within diverse settings. Refining these skills ultimately aids in the arbitration of any potential conflicts that may arise during intra-organizational interactions. The Handbook of Research on Effective Communication, Leadership, and Conflict Resolution evaluates operational strategies and interpersonal skill development for the successful leadership and management of modern organizations. Highlighting various governance and interaction techniques that assist in mediating organizational controversies, this handbook of research is a vital source for professionals, leaders, managers, and human resource specialists interested in developing skills needed to efficiently communicate, collaborate, and negotiate across differences within an organization.

Conflict management and harmony building are two key issues of intercultural communication research and merit particular attention in the globally interconnected world. In the expanded second edition, the book explores the effective ways to manage intercultural conflict and develop intercultural harmony, and takes an interdisciplinary approach to address the two issues. The book begins with the theoretical perspectives on conflict management and harmony building. It examines intercultural communication ethics, diversity and inclusion, conflict resolution, conflict face negotiation, and intercultural competence. It presents both Western and non-Western perspectives. The book then addresses in its second section conflict management and harmony building in specific contexts. These include communication in intergenerational relationships, multinational corporations, and virtual spaces, and covers a range of national cultures including the USA, Japan, Germany, and China. Drawing on the current research findings, this book covers the major theoretical perspectives and provides for a wide range of discussions on intercultural conflict management. It is a crucial reference for teachers, students, researchers, and practitioners alike.

Communication in the broadest sense gains increasing importance in UN peace missions. However, a gap between demand and reality can be observed that points to a multitude of problematic issues. These are taken up by the thesis and it is finally argued: Successful communication strategies need to be aligned to the goals and tasks of the UN mission on all levels in order to be credible; they need to be conflict and context responsive, inclusive and participatory, consider cultural peculiarities and cross vertical as well as horizontal conflict lines. In the tradition of conflict transformative approaches a framework for analysis and evaluation of communication strategies is built and applied to the UN peace missions in Timor-Leste and Nepal. Derived is a dynamic model for the design of communication strategies that covers all relevant fields of action and performances.