His book 'Conflict Management in International Missions' is a dual benefit manual, being a practical curriculum for organisations that train personnel for conflict management missions as well as a guide book for on-field practitioners.
It aims to fill the void between professionals and academia in the area, providing insights that may be used in real-time situations and covering aspects that educational instruction alone may not highlight. Ofstad's work stands apart in its use of social psychology, using principles from the subject for the purpose of conflict resolution.
His distinguished career includes experience as a deputy judge, lecturer, diplomat and senior officer in the Red Cross Movement.
Ofstad answers questions about his latest book:
Q: What made you realize the presence of this gap between the practical and academic facets of peace building?
A: Two factors: My work in the field and my studies of conflict management literature. While such literature is full of intelligent discussions, it is also evident that most academics have never worked in the field.
Q: Several practice-based fields currently face the potential issue of this kind. Do you feel that the academic system itself is faulty? What would you recommend as the solution for such problems?
A: Yes, this is a general problem. It is to some extent a matter of attitudes among academics, but perhaps also a culture of reverence towards the academic mind. The effort of making scholarly knowledge practical and usable, is by some scholars termed 'dumbing down'. Others see it as their obligation to try to give something practical back to society. But even they may be too detached from the real world and therefore unable to contribute practically. Before funding research, I think we to a higher extent should challenge scholars on the question of practical value. The scope and the myriads of Ph.Ds that get funded are mind-boggling, and much of it is from the outset doomed to a lifeless existence on dusty shelves.
Q: Having aided the governments of several countries through your work, do you feel that nation-specific problems exist or that a general set of guidelines can be interpreted to suit an individual region?
A: There are certainly country specific problems. We find huge differences between conflicts in different countries or regions. At the same time it is possible to give general guide-lines on ways to approach conflicts. These must however allow for the diversity of conflicts. My book advocates that a comprehensive, multi disciplinary analysis of needs and conflicts must precede any peace-building operation. The purpose is exactly to address the question: What will it take to build peace in this country? To my knowledge this kind of comprehensive analysis has however never been carried out anywhere.
Q: A key element in your work is the practical application of social psychology for survival. How did you set guidelines for such a volatile aspect of human nature?
A: Social psychology offers comprehensive insights on how human beings influence each other. These insights can be used practically both in conflicts and certain survival situations such as kidnapping. Using psychological influence we may resolve conflicts, and we may influence kidnappers to enhance our chances of a positive outcome.
Q: Will you be creating similar manuals for other fields in your expertise in the future?
A: After my present release 'Conflict Management in International Missions: A field guide' I will follow up with a book on kidnapping prevention and survival. Later I have other projects on my mind, but in a different genre.
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