Comparative Analysis of Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution in the Context of Iraq – United States Bilateral Relations

Abstract

In the fields of conflict resolution and peace studies, scholars rightly argue that there are cultural differences in how violent conflicts are resolved. However, this qualitative research measures laypersons’ perceptions of conflict resolution across Western and Arab/Muslim cultures at the interstate level. Querying a sample of citizens from Iraq and the United States, we measure respondents’ receptiveness to conflict resolution in the context of the United States and Iraq relations. We simultaneously qualify which principles and factors they determine acceptable to induce conflict resolution. Research findings demonstrate that respondents across our samples believe conflict resolution in this instance is necessary. Respondents also predominantly embrace similar principles and factors to advance a resolution process. Our theoretical approach and survey findings challenge contemporary conflict resolution comparative discourse between Arab/Muslim and Western approaches, demonstrating that there is a quantifiable degree of convergence that would enable a process to be pursued.