International Mediation in Venezuela

INTERNATIONAL MEDIATION IN VENEZUELA Jennifer McCoy and Francisco Diez Washington D.C.: U.S. Institute of Peace, 2011 291 pages, paper, $24.95This book presents a detailed case study insider account and critical reflection of the efforts of the Carter Center, United Nations Development Program staff and particularly the Organization of American States when they were invited by Hugo Chavez to Venezuela in 2002. They were asked to facilitate dialogue during highly polarized times at the elite level through 2004. The book represents a rare description of the complex processes and steps that occur, can occur, and hopefully will be seen more often with international conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Too often the international elite and academics of international conflict resolution, and even peacebuilding, assume that the model and approach can only be equated with power and elite politics: that a president or secretary of state from a powerful nation simply steps in or at the very least diplomats are the only ones involved in international negotiation and dialogue. Realistic politics is restricted to envisioning power over and under rather than the democratic with what represents the best of contemporary conflict resolution and peacebuilding.Jimmy Carter certainly has shown rare moral courage in speaking truth in the face of political pressure and a commitment to helping many nation states move forward with true democracy through election oversight. He was also a rare U.S. president in his ability to listen to other heads of state and negotiate agreement. Here he, his center, and alliances go even further. This book introduces how "ordinary" people were and can be persuaded and supported with spreading conflict resolution education and engaging in building peace at the myriad levels of conflict and resolution: the interpersonal, family, neighborhood and church community, labor union, workplace, as well as political group and social movement. Conflict resolution, at its best, empowers truth telling and social justice, or dialogue at all societal levels, in a spiraling rather than linear fashion. This book provides a detailed description of such conflict resolution efforts in Latin America. It does so with impressive reflective practice, or critical self evaluation, of missed opportunities, and other lessons learned.This case study will benefit anyone seeking to expand their knowledge of what is possible with international conflict resolution at the international level. Hopefully it will inspire and motivate a series of such case studies. For example, the practices of conflict analysis searching for areas of possible agreement and progress must occur in relationships of bad faith and limited, if any, trust, particularly when the conflict involves those working for governments in the United States and around the world. Such work is grounded in tough contentious dynamics where power and government employment is often abused at its best; in the worst of conflict predictably, neglectful. Those new to contemporary negotiation and conflict resolution will often expect that what is taught and practiced only occurs in ideal or friendly situations. This is far from the truth. This case study richly introduces readers to real world challenges as well as the complexities of conflict resolution practice.It is interesting to be reading this book at this time when Venezuela is again in highly polarized and violent times and is under continuing scrutiny regarding human rights. …