• Basic Facts About Conflict
• Commonly Used Distinctions
• Commonly Used Terms
• Tips for Transforming Conflict

SFCG Recommended Reading List

Getting to Yes
By Roger Fisher, William L. Ury
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This 1981 classic, updated in 1991, examines the nuances of negotiation in a down to earth and practical manner. The authors use anecdotes to illustrate the positive and the negative aspects of negotiation styles. Principled negotiation is based on the belief that when each side comes to understand the interests of the other, they can jointly create options that are mutually advantageous, resulting in a wise settlement. Getting to Yes is a highly accessible introduction to negotiation and a must read for those interested in conflict resolution.

The Thirds Side
By William L. Ury
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In The Third Side, published in 2000 and formerly known by the title Getting to Peace, Ury explores the idea that fighting is not an inevitable part of human nature. Drawing on his training as an anthropologist, he presents a bold new strategy for stopping fights. He describes ten practical roles, in the categories of conflict prevention, resolution and containment, that each of us can play every day to prevent destructive conflict. Taking “the third side” is a powerful alternative that can transform our daily battles into creative conflict and cooperation.

The Eight Essential Steps to Conflict Resolution: Preserving Relationships at Work, at Home, and in the Community
By Dudley Weeks
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In crisp, easy to read prose, Weeks dispels the notions of conflict. He goes on to teach the reader a series of steps to transform everyday conflicts into healthy, strong, lasting relationships. His eight steps are easy to learn but require diligence to master. As the reader becomes more attuned to his/her methods of resolving conflict, Weeks’ ideas foster newfound ways of examining relationships with our loved ones, our co-workers, and our communities.

Watching the Wind: Conflict Resolution During South Africa's Transition to Democracy
By Susan Collin Marks
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Search for Common Ground’s Senior Vice President, Susan Collin Marks, writes a compelling, inspiring account of peacemaking in action. Watching the Wind takes us to the front lines of South Africa's struggle to manage the tempestuous transition from apartheid to democracy, where, as Marks explains, "something extraordinary happened." The international community had expected a bloodbath, but what it saw instead was a near-miraculous process of negotiation and accommodation. Marks’ Watching the Wind is a poignant account of how conflict transformation works in practice.

The Peace Book: 108 Simple Ways to Create a More Peaceful World
By Louise Diamond
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Diamond asks the reader to breathe, to relax, and to be fully present. “The search for inner peace is the search for our natural self.” Diamond guides the reader on a journey from inner peace, to peace with family, friends, and peace with the world. Every few pages, Diamond inspires the reader with famous quotations as she shares simple ways to create a more peaceful world. From non-violent action to peace and public affairs, Diamond’s practical style is easy to read and easy to understand. Her book provides a holistic approach to wellness and to the many conflicts we face in our daily lives.

Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies
By John Paul Lederarch
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John Paul Lederach is a highly respected professor at Eastern Mennonite University and he has worked many years in the field practicing conflict resolution. His book, Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies examines international conflict resolution techniques from many levels of society. He stresses the importance of long-term strategies for sustainable peace in conflict zones. Lederach scorns field practitioners that “parachute” into conflicts and ignore the needs of the grass-roots population. Lederach asserts the need for constructing relationships across social, political, and economic levels. Many examples of Lederach’s work in the field complement his theoretical overview of peace building techniques.