Conflict Mediation Across Cultures: Pathways and Patterns (Paperback)

~ David W. Augsberger (Author) "Conflict is a crisis that forces us to recognize explicitly that we live with multiple realities and must negotiate a common reality; that we bring..." (more)
Key Phrases: final bargaining, conflict patterns, social face, West Africa, North American, New Guinea (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Believing not only that conflict is inevitable in human life but that it is essential and can be quite constructive, Augsburger proposes a shift to an "international" approach in resolving conflict. Augsburger focuses on interpersonal and group conflicts and provides a comparison of conflict patterns within and among various cultures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (November 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664256090
• ISBN-13: 978-0664256098
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #331,648 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal, June 10, 2003

By	Jedidiah Palosaari "Not My Real Name" (Fes, Morocco) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Augsberger writes of the many different ways that cultures interact with each other, and how cultures approach conflict. There are many ways to approach conflict: different approaches to gender conflict, different beliefs on the nature of shame and "saving face", different ideas on what is effective resolution- and all are equally valid, with both good and evil in the different cultures, and the different methods.

On one level Augsberger is highly readable. He begins each chapter with numerous stories and fables from different cultures on the various conflicts- myths which are highly illuminating, teaching about cultures and about the nature of conflict, as only parables can. Interspersed in each chapter are many other stories and sharings from real life.

However, Augsberger may be one of the most intelligent authors I have ever read. He brings in *so* much, from so many different disciplines, that one feels swamped with information, all integrated in web-like structure, much as most of us feel on reading Finnegan's Wake. It's incredibly well-written, with multi-layers to a Biblical degree, but Augsberger's a lot smarter than I am (and I don't say that often), and this book is *thick*. You'll enjoy it, but read it slowly, and gain the depths and the heights of the change he has to offer.

I'd highly recommend Augsberger's Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures, which explores many of these same themes. And B.J. Prashantham's Indian Case Studies in Therapeutic Counseling as well. B.J. uses his own experiences as an Indian therapist, relating to those within his culture or other cultures in India, providing a very emic perspective on these questions of the nature of conflict and resolution.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent , September 15, 2008

By	Diop Ndeye - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The item arrived as scheduled and in good condition, very impressive.

Thank you and keep it up

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Conflict Mediation , February 22, 2008

By	John Mande "jrmande" (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

Purchase text book for Daughters MBA coarse. I did not read it, however it is requred reading for a MBA coarse. I am going to assume that if the professor requires the book it must be the best choice on the subject matter.