TRADITIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESSES: MEDIATION AND RITUALS TO ADDRESS CONFLICTS IN MULTI-ETHNIC CULTURES OF LAOS By STEPHANIE PHETSAMAY STOBBE A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department of Peace and Conflict Studies University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA Copyright 2011 Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe TRADITIONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION PROCESSES: MEDIATION AND RITUALS TO ADDRESS CONFLICTS IN MULTI- ETHNIC CULTURES OF LAOS STEPHANIE PHETSAMAY STOBBE Winnipeg, Manitoba THESIS ABSTRACT Traditional Conflict Processes: Mediation and Rituals to Address Conflicts in Multi-Ethnic Cultures of Laos Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe March 2011 There are countless millions of people in the world who have little formally recognizable means for receiving any form of social justice. Poverty, war, violence, religious fundamentalism, corrupt political regimes, and many other inequalities control the lives of the world’s most marginalized people, preventing them from improving on their circumstances. As a global society, we have often been incapable of understanding how to effectively address these situations beyond hoping for positive political change and, in some circumstances, using military options to produce that political change. Laos, a small landlocked country in Southeast Asia, is a place that has seen some of the most brutal forms of poverty and violence. Over centuries, ethnic groups have been polarized and used by foreign powers to support their own agendas. In spite of this, the Lao people have consistently managed to recreate the peace and harmony that support their social relationships. Through the development and use of appropriate grassroots conflict resolution structures that do not require a formal court system, and exist outside the political arena, they have been able to resolve conflicts within and across cultural groups. Using in-depth interviews with different ethnic groups in Laos, this research examines traditional conflict resolution processes used in their communities. It identifies and discusses a Lao Conflict Resolution Spectrum, bringing particular attention to the Village Mediation Committee (Neoy Gai Geer). Laos’ unique and most recognized conflict resolution ceremonies and rituals, the baci ceremony (soukhouan) and the reconciliation ceremony (soumma), are examined as tools for peacebuilding. All of these conflict resolution practices are significant in addressing conflict, repairing harm, rebuilding relationships, and restoring harmony to communities in conflict. These systems incorporate all the principles of effective conflict resolution, including transparency, accountability, inclusivity, flexibility, familiarity, accessibility, support networks, and relationship building. This research discovers how the conflict resolution systems of Laos are embedded in the fabric of grassroots life, and operate independently of the hierarchical structures that dominate governing institutions. It presents a case study of how people from a violent and impoverished past still manage to find ways to address their need for social justice and interconnectedness. The results provide greater understanding and appreciation of the contributions from diverse groups of people who are working daily to establish positive relationships, constructive and appropriate conflict resolution systems, and overall peace in their world. It demonstrates where peace can be found in difficult situations, among people who care little for political agenda and care a great deal about existing harmoniously with the people in their communities in order to mutually raise their quality of life. To my mother, Pinkham; husband, Karl, and children, Katherine and Matthew Thank you for all your love, support, and encouragement ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I herewith express my appreciation to Dr. Jessica J. Senehi, Dr. John R. Wiens, and Dr. Ellen R. Judd, my doctoral dissertation committee. A special thanks to Dr. Senehi for her tremendous support of my project and work in cross-cultural conflict resolution, and her expertise in storytelling as a process to understand culture and build peace. I would like to thank Dr. Senehi for her interest and encouragement in my work, her advice on various matters, and for allowing me to work on my dissertation at my own pace. I am also grateful to Dr. Wiens for his continuous support and encouragement of my research and interest in traditional conflict resolution processes in Laos and Southeast Asia. I would like to thank Dr. Ellen Judd for joining the committee and expressing her interest in my research topic. Our mutual interest in Asia helps to connect some of our research. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Cathie J. Witty, my external examiner, for her encouraging comments and valuable feedback. I would like to say a big “thank you” to all the organizations and research assistants in Laos who were instrumental in helping with the research project. Their enthusiasm, support, and knowledge of the country were invaluable to me. I hope that our friendship will continue for many years. Also, tremendous thanks to the participants themselves who were so willing to participate in the project and to allow me to be a part of so many wonderful conflict resolution rituals. I will always value the knowledge, insights, and discussions on conflict resolution traditions of Laos. iii I also acknowledge my family for their support of my academic studies, particularly my mother, Pinkham, for all her kind encouragement and assistance in establishing communication in Laos that helped to make this research possible. I would like to thank my husband, Karl, for all his love, support, and dedication to our family and to my work in conflict resolution. Finally, to my wonderful children, Katherine and Matthew, who have been patient and understanding as I worked on my research and writing. Thanks to all my family who supported me and took care of my children while I went to conduct field research in various villages and cities in Laos. S.P.S. iv Table of Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures .................................................................................................................... x List of Copyrighted Materials for which Permission was Obtained ........................... xi Note on Transliteration .................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER I ...................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction: Life Experiences that Led to the Study of Peace and Conflict Studies 1 CHAPTER II ................................................................................................................... 10 Cultural, Traditional, and Grassroots Understanding of Conflict Resolution ......... 10 Defining Key Terms in Peace and Conflict Studies .............................................................. 12 Conflict .................................................................................................................................. 12 Conflict Management ............................................................................................................ 14 Problem Solving .................................................................................................................... 15 Conflict Resolution ............................................................................................................... 15 Conflict Transformation ........................................................................................................ 16 The Multi-Faceted Aspects of Culture and Its Influence ..................................................... 17 Definition of Culture ............................................................................................................. 18 Culture and Communication ................................................................................................. 21 Culture and Face .................................................................................................................... 23 Culture and Knowledge ......................................................................................................... 24 Culture and Storytelling ........................................................................................................ 25 Culture and Conflict Resolution ............................................................................................ 26 Culture and Rituals ................................................................................................................ 28 Culture and Research Approach ............................................................................................ 30 Insights from Culture Literature for Current Research ......................................................... 31 Mediation as the Preferred Conflict Resolution Process ..................................................... 32 Third Parties, Community Mediation, and Customary Laws in Southeast Asia ................... 34 Other Third Party Conflict Resolution Processes ................................................................. 38 Insights for Current Research from Other Mediation Processes Literature .........................