LANDON E. HANCOCK
Assistant Professor, Center for Applied Conflict Management and Political Science Department
My research concentrates on the issue of ethnic conflict. This examination includes the dimensions of ethnic identity formation and change; the dynamics of ethnic conflicts; and the interplay of structural forces, institutions and policies with ethnic and cultural factors; and how these impact the outbreak of conflict, its resolution and the roles of these elements in the success or failure of post-conflict peace-building.
My research focus has not been limited to a particular area. Instead I have chosen to focus on comparative patterns of ethnic conflict in a number of areas including Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America because I believe that this is the best way to understand these phenomena in both their intra and international aspects.
While I have many research projects underway, there are three that are the most current. The first of these is an edited book examining the phenomena known as Local Zones of Peace. I have been working with a group of colleagues and students at George Mason to understand why, in some places like Colombia and the Philippines, local communities have chosen to withdraw from the civil conflicts and how they go about doing so. This work culminated in a volume edited by myself and Dr. Christopher Mitchell due to be published by Kumarian Press in Spring of 2007.
My two other main projects are extensions of my dissertation work examining the role of identity in the Northern Irish peace process. I am working with two colleagues to replicate this study in the context of the failed Oslo peace accords, and have already collected interview material from Israelis and Palestinians. My other study is more quantitative, examining the nature and effects of threat, and whether people tend to discriminate more or less when their primary identities are threatened. Both of these studies are funded by grants from the Solomon Asch Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
In addition, I was awarded a Peace Scholar Dissertation Fellowship by the United States Institute of Peace in 2001, which supported my research efforts examining the Northern Irish Peace Process.
Prior to coming to KSU I taught courses in conflict resolution, peace studies and ethnic conflict at George Mason University, American University and the University of Baltimore and have given guest lectures at Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv and Tblisi State University in the Republic of Georgia.
I am currently a member of the International Studies Association and the International Society for Political Psychology.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Office: 302 Bowman Hall, Office 25
Phone: 330-672-0904
E-mail: lhancoc2@kent.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Conflict Analysis & Resolution, The Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution, George Mason University, 2003
M.A., International Relations, San Francisco State University, 1997
B.A., International Relations, San Francisco State University, 1991
FIELDS
Conflict Analysis & Resolution, Ethnicity & Race, Identity Conflicts, Social Identity, Peacekeeping, Peacemaking and Peace Processes, Religion and Conflict
RESEARCH INTERESTS
The interaction between identity conflicts and peacemaking. Indigenous and local peace processes, social conflict and development, comparative analyses of the generation and resolution of ethnic conflicts
PUBLICATIONS
Zones of Peace: Local Conflict Mitigation and Peacebuilding in the Midst of Civil Violence. Co-editor (with Christopher R. Mitchell). Bloomfield, CT. Kumarian Press. 2007.
"Significant Events in the Northern Irish Peace Process: Impact and Implementation." In From Power Sharing to Democracy: Post Conflict Institutions in Politically Divided Societies. Ed. S. Noel. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press. 2005.
"Pushing for Peace and Stability: Some Comments on Colin Irwin’s Polls." Forum: Northern Ireland in The Global Review of Ethnopolitics. Vol. 2, Nos. 3-4, pp. 83-84. 2003.
"To Act or to Wait: A Two Stage View of Ripeness." International Studies Perspectives. Vol. 2, No. 2 (May), pp. 195-205. 2001.
"The Indo-Sri Lankan Accord: An Analysis of Conflict Termination." Civil Wars. Vol. 2, No. 4 (Winter), pp. 83-105. 1999.
Soldier, Scientist, Diplomat, Mediator: The Multi-Disciplinary Context of Conflict Resolution. Co-editor (with others). Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Fairfax, VA. 1999.
"The Patterns of Ethnic Conflict." Ethnos-nation. Vol. 6, Nos. 1-2. 1998.
"Northern Ireland: Troubles Brewing." Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland. UK. 1998. Available at: http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/landon.htm.
"The Pecos River Case: Sharing a Resource Among Old Rivals." In Braving the Currents: Evaluating Environmental Conflict Resolution in the American West. Eds. Tamra Pearson d’Estrée and Bonnie G. Colby. Norwell, MA: Kluwer, 2004 (with Annette Hanada).
"The Role of European Security Organizations in the Prevention of Violent Conflict and Post-conflict Peacebuilding: A Preview of OSCE and WEU Capabilities, Strengths, and Weaknesses." Peace Research Abstracts. Vol. 37, No. 5. 2000 (with Valery Perry and Allison Frendak).
"A Skeletal Solution to an Enigmatic Puzzle: A Framework for Intervening to Prevent Violent Ethno-identity Conflict." The CASID Connection. Vol. 16, No. 1 (Summer), pp. 38-58. 2000 (with Joshua N. Weiss and Valery Perry).
"The Conflict Within: The Interpersonal Conflict Between Arafat and Netanyahu." The On-line Journal of Peace and Conflict Resolution. Issue 2:2. 1999 (with Joshua N. Weiss). Electronic publication at universal resource link http://www.trinstitute.org/ojpcr/2_2hanwei.htm.
BOOK REVIEWS
"Social Culture, Politics, and Nationalism in the Age of Globalization." Ed. R. Lukic and M. Brint. Nationalism & Ethnic Politics. 9:3, 2003.
"Social Conflicts and Collective Identities." Ed. P.G. Coy and L.M. Woehrle. Peace & Change. 28:4, 2003.
"Reconciliation, Justice and Coexistence." Ed. Mohammed Abu-Nimer. Peace and Conflict. 8:3, 2002.
"Identity in Northern Ireland." By Cathal McCall. The Ethnic Conflict Research Digest. 3:1, 2000.
"Identity and Affect." Eds. John R. Campbell and Alan Rew. The Ethnic Conflict Research Digest. 2:2, 1999.
"A Question of Identity." Ed. Anne J. Kershen. The Ethnic Conflict Research Digest. 2:2, 1999.
"Culture and Conflict Resolution." By Kevin Avruch. The Ethnic Conflict Research Digest. 2:2, 1999.
"Peacemaking in International Conflict: Methods and Techniques." Ed. I. William Zartman and Lewis Rasmussen. The Ethnic Conflict Research Digest. 2:1, 1999.