Managing Conflict is something we all have to do in our own lives. We have all experienced conflict within our families and with work colleagues, usually over small matters, but sometimes over very serious ones. Sometimes we feel we have helped to settle the conflict: at other times we may feel we have made things worse. This issue of Footsteps tackles conflict within and between communities. As resources become scarce and life more difficult, so conflicts are likely to become more common. As Tom Houston of World Vision said, ‘The main problem in the world today is conflict and the greatest need is for reconciliation in these conflicts. There is no greater contributor to human suffering and no more significant barrier to effective development action than the violent conflicts that are tearing apart communities and societies throughout the world. Since 1945 120 armed conflicts in Third World countries have killed over 20 million people, most of whom were civilians.’
This issue looks mainly at conflict over natural resources since this is likely to be one of the areas of most relevance to Footsteps readers. Ian Wallace also examines the need for reconciliation after ethnic conflict in Rwanda. This issue may simply help you to understand some of the causes of conflict. It may help you to raise and discuss issues causing conflict in your own community or work situation. It may even help you see a way to resolve a more serious conflict in your region. There has never been a greater need for peacemakers in our troubled world. As Christians, not only are we all called to be peacemakers but also to teach forgiveness and reconciliation. I hope this issue will help us meet that challenge more effectively.
Staff at the Centre for Rural Development and Training (CRDT) at the University of Wolverhampton have provided most of the content for this issue. They have much experience in conflict management and we are very grateful indeed for their inputs.
Isabel Carter