Disseminating Principles of Conflict

This article constitutes an initial step towards linking the field of conflict resolution with the film industry, presenting arguments and methods for incorporating conflict resolution theory and principles within cinema. Beyond the pursuit of theoretical, academic exploration, this paper also aspires to generate a practical framework for creating ‘humanising films ’ which, as this paper argues, can contribute to a culture of peace. More than merely a form of entertainment, the author purports that cinema plays a profound role in the forma-tion of human beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. Various fields of study have recognised opportunities associated with embedding persuasive content in entertainment, most notably in the areas of advertising and marketing, but also in the humanitarian fields of promoting democracy, wom-en’s rights, and health. One area of study that is noticeably absent in existing literature on entertainment-based per-suasion, however, is conflict resolution. This article aims to fill this gap by exploring the potential dissemination of conflict resolution principles to the public through dra-matic entertainment – in particular, via feature films. Although there have been several attempts to include the public in the various theoretical undertakings within the field of conflict resolution, little progress has been made towards incorporating conflict resolution techniques and values into mainstream culture. In this paper the au-thor identifies a recent notion from various conflict reso-lution theorists that the arts are an underutilised tool fo