As we begin another travel around the sun I am, like many others at this time of year, caught up in an introspective mood. This past year has proven the utility of conflict studies for me. I have had many opportunities in 2023 to use my negotiation skills and knowledge of conflict for practical purposes.

I have also seen the usefulness of conflict resolution borne out in greater society. I noticed many practitioners of conflict resolution on social media. I am aware that I might be trapped in bubble but it is still comforting to know there are others with similar interests out there.

What I see is a world that is presented as splintered and in conflict. I know there are wars going on. I tend to follow armed conflicts as a consequence of having been a soldier once. Though most of our attention is drawn to Israel and Ukraine these days, in the US we seem to have forgotten about the messes in Syria and Yemen. We never seem to pay attention to the conflicts to which we contribute that are not interstate warfare.

The conflicts we are presented with on an everyday basis reflect the views and prejudices of a particular subset of our society. I rarely watch the news these days because what I see is mainly the ravings and rage of a demented few who feel their grievances need to be aired publicly without having tried to solve those problems through their own efforts. Some people are stupid and stupid cannot be helped. From what I can tell, the stupid are never in doubt about the solutions to their problems. I cannot help people who have all the answers.

I do know that there are people who get stuck and realized they are stuck. I can help people who reach out for help. I do not solve problems for people. I can provide perspective and context that can help stuck people find their own solutions.