History

The ICCCR was founded in 1986 under the direction of Professor Emeritus Morton Deutsch, one of the world’s most respected scholars of conflict resolution. Professor Deutsch, an eminent social psychologist, has been widely honored for his scientific contributions involving research on cooperation and competition, social justice, group dynamics, and conflict resolution. He has published extensively and is well known for his pioneering studies in intergroup relations, social conformity, and the social psychology of justice. His books include: Interracial Housing (1951); Theories in Social Psychology (1965); The Resolution of Conflict (1973); Distributive Justice (1985); and The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice (2000). Professor Deutsch’s work has been widely honored by such awards as the Kurt Lewin Memorial Award, the G. W. Allport Prize, the Carl Hovland Memorial Award, the APA Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award, and the Distinguished Research Scientist Award. Dr. Deutsch has also been president of a variety of organizations including the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, the International Society of Political Psychology, and several Divisions of the APA.

In 1988, Ellen Raider, M.Ed., a renowned and innovative teacher, practitioner, and social activist, joined the Center and together with Dr. Deutsch forged an approach to work in conflict resolution that integrated theory and practice. Ms. Raider developed the initial instruction and training activities of the ICCCR: designing and conducting workshops and creating training materials for teachers, administrators, school boards, parents, and students. The Center is part of the Social-Organizational Psychology Program, in the Department of Organization and Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Professor Peter T. Coleman, a noted scholar-practitioner in the field, became Director of the ICCCR in 1998. Under Dr. Coleman’s leadership, the staff and students of the ICCCR have become interested in addressing the challenges posed by some of the more difficult and complex issues of our time. Specifically, the theoretical and practical problems of fostering constructive change in systems locked in cycles of dominance and oppression, struggling to meet the concerns of diverse populations, or mired in highly escalated, seemingly intractable conflicts. Dr. Coleman has conducted research on the mediation of interethnic conflict, fostering ripeness in intractable conflict, and on the conditions which foster the constructive use of social power. He has more recently been developing simulations using dynamical systems modeling as a way to address and change the course of protracted conflicts. He has and continues to author many chapters and journal articles including co-editing The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice (2000) and the second edition to be published in 2006.

In the summer of 2002, Dr. Beth Fisher-Yoshida, joined the ICCCR as Associate Director. Dr. Fisher-Yoshida continues to conduct research in the areas of intercultural communication, conflict resolution, transformative learning and Coordinated Management of Meaning ( CMM). Dr. Fisher-Yoshida has more than 20 years experience working with people in education and organizations. Her areas of specialization include working with client organizations in supporting their change efforts through addressing: conflict resolution, diversity, communication, team building, performance management and leadership development. She is currently leading participatory action research ( PAR) and other practice intervention activities of the ICCCR, as well as being a faculty member in the Social-Organizational Psychology Program and Summer Principal Academy ( SPA). Dr. Fisher-Yoshida continues to author journal articles and chapters and is now engaged in book writing projects.