Sep 1, 2023
Welcome to the Opening Up podcast series, a new effort from the Conflict Transformation (CT) Collaborative at Middlebury!
Many people hear the word conflict and pull away, because they think of the harm that can come from destructive conflict. Yet conflict is part of the human experience, and constructive conflict can enrich our relationships and communities. This lens on conflict informs the field of "conflict transformation," and helps us understand the value of engaging across our differences.
The Conflict Transformation (CT) Collaborative at Middlebury is a major new initiative that seeks to use this lens on conflict to expand our work on intercultural communication, dialogue, restorative justice, and beyond. Middlebury is a global educational institution, and CT programs are being expanded at the College in Vermont, the Institute in Monterey, CA, at the Bread Loaf School of English, and in our Schools Abroad.
Our first two episodes are hosted by Sarah Stroup, director of the CT Collaborative and a political science professor at Middlebury. In Episode 1, we introduce you to the field of conflict transformation through the words of leading practitioners and scholars that have visiting Middlebury in our first year.