Activity: Not just a river on a map - the cultural dimensionThis is a featured page


Purpose:To try to analyse the cultural dimension for a conflict case study.
To identify challenges for conducting an analysis of the cultural dimension
Participants:4 to 20 (or more)

Time: 90 min. (more if needed)

Materials:Flip charts
Marker Pens
Note books and pens
Process:1. The session will be structured around the two-part case study "Not just a river on a map", taking place in Lesotho. If you have not used the case study for the other dimensions of change before, give a brief introduction to the case. If the other dimensions have been analysed for the case, you can give a short recap of the main findings.

2. Organise participants in groups of 4-5 and assign the task: The groups shall analyse the cultureal dimension of conflict and how the conflict has brought about change (comparing the two parts). The following questions can guide the analysis (provide them to participants on a handout):

  • What cultural patterns that seem to have an impact, whether positive or negative, on how conflict is understood, approached and handled, can be identified?
  • What aspects of conflict between groups are affected by cultural and worldview differences?
  • In what way are (have) existing cultural patterns (been) influenced by conflict and its consequences (such as displacement, loss of life, disrupting of families)?
3) In plenary, let groups report back to plenary what the major results of their analysis are.

4) In discussion with the participants, explore:
  • What can be learnt from analysing the cultural dimension for this case?
  • What challenges can be faced when tasked with analysing the cultural dimension? How could they be dealt with?
  • For the case presented here, how could positive cultural transformation be motivated? (Or is this not possible at all?)
Note:
Instead of using this case study, you can also encourage the groups to analyse a "real" conflict in their context.

The case study is relatively long and this might pose a challenge in mixed groups, or groups where English is not first or second language. You can consider translating a summary of the case or present the case to participants in another, more visual and less text-based method.

Handout(s): Moeketsi, Tello, Not Just a River on a Map, in: Centre for Conflict Resolution, Case Studies of Conflict in Africa, in: Track Two. Constructive Approaches to Community and Political Conflict, Vol. 12, Nos 3 and 4, University of Cape Town: 2003, pp. 70-74. <http://www.ccr.uct.ac.za/fileadmin/template/ccr/pdf/TT12-3_4_Sep05.pdf> (accessed 4 August 2009).

Guiding questions for analysis (see process description above)
Source(s):chachabooth@gmail.com



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