Dear colleague,

The new number of Intervention (Vol 3, No.3 ) is now on its way to subscribers.

I hope you are already familiar with our journal, Intervention, The International Journal of Mental Health, Psychosocial work and Counselling in Areas of Armed Conflict, which brings special focus to local field reports, training, evaluation and practical implementation within this important discipline. The journal is published in close co-operation with the War Trauma Foundation and IRCT.

Volume 3: Number 3: Winter 2005
Special Number: Reconciliation In Practice

Reconciliation - The wrong track to peace?
David Becker looks at the shortcomings of reconciliation in current theory and practice. Describing the experiences of Chile, Sierra Leone and Israel/Palestine, the author concludes that the concept of reconciliation is here to stay, and proposes a definition that does justice to the complex intra-psychic processes connected with integrating conflicts instead of burying the past.

Empirical criteria for reconciliation in practice
Dan Bar-On examines the processes of reconciliation. Although a top-down legal and political agreement between the formerly conflicting parties is certainly necessary, a full solution also requires a complementary bottom-up educational and social-psychological process. These are crucial in allowing people to let go of the hatred, the desire for revenge, the memory of trauma and the mistrust. Bar-On discusses the TRT group which brought together descendents of holocaust victims and nazi perpetrators over a period of thirteen years, and considers some lessons for the current Israeli/Palestinian conflict. He suggests several empirical criteria for the study of reconciliation in practice.

Can there be reconciliation without justice?
East Timor is undergoing a reconciliation process, but the fact that many of the perpetrators have escaped justice means a high level of anger remains among the victims. The authors consider how to to make provision for the inevitable anger and frustration felt when the perpetrators avoid prosecution.

Reconciliation in the aftermath of violent conflict in Rwanda
Richters et al.prsent their experience of the reconciliation process in Rwanda over an extended period, and under a repressive government. They discuss if, and to what extent, internationally oriented concepts and programs with cultural specific approaches to reconciliation are in themselves in conflict with each other, or whether they have the potential to reinforce each other.

Twelve creative ways to foster reconciliation
Using his considerable experience as a mediator in many conflict areas, John Galtung discusses twelve approaches to reconciliation. Since no single approach is capapble of dealing with the complexities of reconciliation, the author suggests using a combination of approaches which can be discussed and approved by the parties so as to arrive at an optimum blend for their particular local situation.

Online Resources.
Intervention is participating in several online projects to make information available to the widest possible readership. They include the PILOTS Index to Traumatic Stress Literature ( http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/publications/pilots/ )

Call for papers: Ex-combatants
In November 2006 we hope to publish a special issue on the theme: "ex-combatants: reintegration into society". Theoretical contributions, research articles, field reports and reviews of inspiring books are all welcome. If you would like to contribute, or if you know somebody else who could, please contact us.

Perhaps you would like to suggest some other subject for inclusion, or want to take up an issue with one of our authors? Perhaps you know of a librarian who should review the publication, or a colleague who would benefit from a subscription to Intervention...if there is any way in which we can help each other, please do not hesitate to ask us.

Yours faithfully

Guus van der Veer
Editor

Intervention is downloadable!

Our new website contains downloadable versions of past articles
as well as current news and events.
www.interventionjournal.com