Background and aims

Conflicts are not inherently negative - even if they often seem to be. They are inherent in open societies and essential to every democratic debate. Modern societies without conflicts do not, and cannot exist.
The way we deal with conflicts determines the way in which we live together. Do we succeed in dealing with a conflict in a consensual or at least in a sensible, humane and direct manner, or do we resort to violent and adversarial means which have to be dictated from above?
In the interest of the democratic development of society, conflict resolution should primarily be arrived at by means of social interaction, and only secondarily through state intervention. All conflicts, particularly violent ones, are rooted in social rejection and abrupt discontinuities in social organisation. Political strategies aimed exclusively at suppressing such violent conflicts are short-lived and satisfy the need for law and order only temporarily; for the latter, having been fulfilled through supression, must then be seen as a mere reaction to insecurity and to a fear for the future.
Violence always extends beyond that which is expressed by a single individual. It is both a sign and an expression of the individual's inability to react constructively to the insecurities which are constituitive of modern society.
The manner in which a democratic society deals with conflicts is pivotal for its positive development. Coping with conflictual situations and dealing with insecurities and changes demands a high level of personal skill and expertise. These skills must be developed, enhanced and encouraged.

"Strengthen the people - clarify the issues" is how H. V. Hentig summed up this complex demand. Mediating institutions are needed in order to bring together and promote these available approaches. The culture of dealing with conflicts in a nonlegal manner can be supported by providing a network linking the forum for theoretical discourse with the training of practical skills.
This is the main goal of the Institute for the Constructive Management of Conflict and for Mediation.

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Our Work

The Institute for the Constructive Management of Conflict and for Mediation (ikm) deals with the following areas:

1. Teaching mediation skills, constructive conflict management and the aptitude for moral courage

- basic training courses, advanced in-service training; training for the staffs of churches, schools and other social institutions; training for interested private individuals, for youth groups and further education courses.
- Project days and project weeks in schools on the above topics, in particular on constructive conflict management and mediation
- School development, consulting at schools, school conferences
- Consulting service for staff teams in social and public institutions
- Instigation and accompaniment of conferences on security and conferences geared to specific districts.
- Publication of talks, documents, programs and studies

2. Agency for professional mediators and trainers

- Trained professionals and experts in specific fields of conflict
- Organisation of meetings, and further qualification of professionals

3. Strengthening networks for furthering moral courage

The network consists of institutions that support the move towards peacefully dealing with, and mediating in social and political conflicts. The ikm brings the collaborating institutions and groups together within the network, informs them, coordinates projects, helps to meet challenges and to work out assignments and tasks. This perfomance of the ikm aims at making use of all the potential from the separate institutions for the good of the entire undertaking. The members of the network contribute both technically and financially to the work of the institute.

4. Basic work

Research, archives, publications and public relations, speeches and talks.

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©2000 ikm | geändert am 9. August 2005