A Social-Psychological Approach To Conflict Resolution: Interactive Problem Solving

Track II diplomacy has gained currency on the international scene since the last quarter of the twentieth century. Herbert C. Kelman, a leading scholar in social sciences and a pioneer in interactive conflict resolution, has contributed to this field by applying social-psychological concepts to the analysis and resolution of conflict. In this article, the conceptual basis of Kelman’s interactive problem solving approach will be appraised as well as his work on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli-Palestinian workshops that Kelman and his colleagues held for more than twenty years have been influential especially in the prenegotiation process leading to the Oslo Agreement.