Peace with North Korea: an Application of Modern Conflict Resolution Theory

The Korean conflict that began shortly after World War II remains unresolved to the present day despite the development of highly effective conflict resolution theories and practices. Initiatives to achieve conflict resolution are impacted by the political agendas of many nations, which has added a crippling complexity. Nonetheless, initiatives have been undertaken over the years that have made inroads into the problem, although not without repeated, frustrating setbacks. This work examines the history and context of the Korean conflict, examines the formal and informal initiatives that have been undertaken to resolve the conflict to date, and analyzes a number of modern conflict resolution theories, particularly the potential roles of Citizen Diplomacy and the Third Side theory of conflict resolution, to determine if they provide a usable structure for ultimately achieving peace on the Korean peninsula. Scholars and practitioners will find this work useful in conflict analysis and policy development.