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50 percent within the next decade as more informa- and regional conflict, and conflict assumes different
tion is generated and stored but not necessarily ana- forms in different locations and political settings.
lyzed or understood. Sometimes, I think "we don't There is no question that the geographies and politics
know what we don't know." Such information gaps of conflict-especially ethnic and racial conflict-will
are especially apparent when working with new assume center stage in many regions during the next
democracies, new ideologies, and problems related few decades.
to human welfare. While we spend time and energy studying the causes
- How do we communicate? How we communicate is and geographies of conflict, we also would be wise to
always a problem and will remain so far among investigate conflict resolution. That is, what are the
those who attempt to understand global political alternatives to keep conflict? What are useful local
changes. The introduction of faster and cheaper and regional strategies that governments and other
modes of communication-modems, FAX machines institutions-including religious, educational, and
and e-mail-literally place more locations on the volunteer ones-might implement to conflict situa-
planet within easy reach of others that are con- tions from emerging. Or, once conflict has surfaced,
nected. It is important to know from where the infor- what can be done to lessen or resolve the conflict or
mation comes and its credibility. prevent it from spreading. Much of the conflict resolu-
tion literature focuses on information-who knows
e CNN and photographs.CNN, out of Atlanta, is what about another group. Understanding conflict and
replacing the standard news organizations and conflict resolution is best not left only to experts in the
sources. This "global newspaper of the air" reaches government or universities who study cultural, pol-
all parts of the world. What viewers see are CNN's tics, and social change. It also must be an integral part
views of the world. Literally, we could say that "We of the educational system in early and middle school
are watching CNN and CNN is watching us." The years. Just as one learns to hate and practice discrimi-
second part of this instant television of the-world is nation, so one can learn strategies to reduce conflict,
the growing importance of images conveyed to glo- hatred, and discrimination and see the benefits of rec-
bal audiences by CNN and other television net- onciliation.
works. Photos are replacing words and speeches as
the important elements in many international policy
decisions. Looking Ahead
- Surveys and polls. One of the consequences of the In closing, I think it is important to train and retrain
information revolution is the increased use of polls professionals for the future geopolitical worlds of the
and surveys at local, regional, and global levels. next 25 to 50 years. This entails an understanding and
Those groups surveyed may have narrow or broad appreciation of the new global diversities that the
support among a state's population; for this reason, planet's leaders and citizens will face. There are not
the geographic results of surveys and polls take on one or two best solutions to problems, but potentially
added meaning. The use of these surveys, whether a host of alternatives. Somehow it is important to
designed and conducted fairly or manipulated, can develop familiarity with various models and method-
form an important weapon on the part of the state to ologies ranging from scenario writing to complex
conduct specific policies in certain regions and with mathematical computer gaming. Specialists need to be
certain groups. constantly investigating creative alternatives to exist-
ing or anticipated problems. Being bold, creative, and
imaginative are more important than being bound by
Learning About Conflict and Cooperation disciplinary strategems, traditional solutions, and regi-
mented ideologies and philosophies.
Much of the discussion during the past few days has
focused on ethnic conflict within states and regions.
As we have learned, there are multiple causes of local
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