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This is a platform for sharing the progress of my PhD research at the London College of Communication. It is an interactive space which invites discourse through readers’ comments, suggestions and insights into other contexts and/or researches that are tackling similar questions.

The research focuses on using communication design methods to provide tools for the interaction and engagement of young members from different social groups in conflict-affected societies. The research takes the Lebanese social structure as a case study to generate a transferable set of guidelines which could be applicable in any similar conflict-affected society.

Here is a brief overview of the scope of the research:

The field of study is communication design, defined as the process of ‘conceiving, programming, projecting, and realizing visual communications… aimed at broadcasting specific messages to specific sectors of the public. This is done with a view toward having an impact on the public’s knowledge, attitudes, or behavior in an intended direction’ (Frascara 2004, 2). The following points will relate key terms in the definition to the research:

The process is based on visual anthropology and participatory methods. Visual anthropology involves the use of visual ethnographic research methods (such as film, photography, visual probes, etc.) to create social visual interventions (Pink, 2007 pp. 3). Participatory methods involve multidisciplinary, cross-functional teams – from audience to stakeholders – to participate in the research process (Deasy, 2003 pp. 172).

The visual communications can cover a broad spectrum of forms and mediums depending on their efficiency in communication and dissemination within specific contexts. In the case study this will be informed by secondary research, ethnographic and participatory methods.

The message is social integration through dialogue. Numerous researchers (Note 1) pioneered and supported problem-solving workshops and generative dialogue between unofficial representatives of groups as a tool for conflict resolution in conflict affected societies. These refer to nations or states composed of a number of internal, violently or non-violently segregated social groups (Note 2) along one or more of these lines: Religion, sect, polity, geography, language, ethnicity, etc. Although some social groups are close in their physical location, the social distance between them is sometimes unbridgeable (Brunt, 2001 pp. 81). In Lebanon, the lines of conflict are religion, sect and geography (Note 3).

The sectors of the public are young generations because they have an unexplored potential to positively transform conflict affected societies (Del Felice & Wisler, 2007). In the Lebanese society these will be 21 to 30 years old because the former is the age of legal majority (Note 4) and the latter is the average age for marriage (Note 5).

Note 1
Such as John Burton, Joseph V. Montville (Hamad, 2005 pp. 14-15), Michelle Maiese (Maiese, 2003), and Adam Kahane (Kahane, 2007).

Note 2
Examples of conflict affected societies:
Northern Ireland (sect), Belgium (language), Russia (ethnicity/geography), Guatemala (polity), Congo (polity/geography), Indonesia-Sulawesi (religion/ethnicity), Israel/Palestine (religion/geography), etc.

Note 3
According to Article 24 of the Lebanese Constitution, The Chamber of Deputies is elected on a confessional basis representative of the social structure according to the following principles:
Religion: Equal representation between Christians and Muslims
Sect: Proportional representation between different sects within a religion.
Geography: Proportional representation between different geographic regions.

Note 4
21 years:  The age Lebanese individuals no longer requiring consent from their parents/guardians varies depending on religion, gender, and civics, ranging from 9 to 21 years old, but the latter is the age of legal majority.

Note 5
30 years:  The Committee on the Rights of the Child indicates that the average age of marriage in Lebanon is 28 years for females and 31 years for males (2007). Therefore, 30 years is the mean before/if individuals settle into their own or other social groups.

References

Brunt, L. (2001) Into the Community, in: P. Atkinson et al. (eds.), Handbook of Ethnography. London, Thousand Oaks & New Delhi: Sage Publications Ltd, pp. 80-91.

Deasy, D. (2003) Non-Assumptive Research, in: B. Laurel (ed.), Design Research: Methods and Perspectives. Cambridge USA: The MIT Press, pp. 172-175.

Del Felice, C. & Wisler, A. (2007) The Unexplored Power and Potential of Youth as Peace-Builders [Internet], Peace Conflict & Development, vol. 11, November 2007. Available from <http://www.peacestudiesjournal.org.uk> [Accessed 27 November 2008]

Frascara, J. (2004) Communication Design: Principles, Methods, and Practice. New  York: Allworth Press.

Hamad, A.A. (2005) The Reconceptualisation of Conflict Management. Peace [Internet], Peace Conflict & Development, vol. 7, July 2005. Available from <http://www.peacestudiesjournal.org.uk> [Accessed 2 December 2008]

Kahane, A. (2007) Solving Tough Problems. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.

Maiese, M. (2003) Problem-Solving Workshops [Internet] Colorado: The University of Colorado. Available from < http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/Anal_Prob_Solv/> [Accessed 2 December 2008]

Pink, S. (2007) Visual Interventions: Applied Visual Anthropology. New York & Oxford: Berghahn Books, pp. 3-26.

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