Contemporary Challenges to Conflict Resolution Approach Towards Maintaining International Security

Abstract

The world is rapidly transforming and continuously facing changes in every aspect of people's existence. Each new change, whether local or global, introduces a new challenge to deal with. Unfortunately, some current changes are not positive at all. Such are the threats towards the international security and stability. Therefore, many people would argue that the world we all live in is a dangerous place and they would not be far from the truth. Each day, through the media we witness new conflicts, terrorist attacks, killings and suffering. We also witness a new security concern for the states in the form of transnational terrorism. Extremist groups can reach every corner of the globe in just a few days. Some of them remain focused on local or national political dynamics, but others seek to affect global change. Another particularly important challenge for the Balkans and Europe in recent years is the migration crisis. Macedonia is one of those countries that was and still is on the main route for migrants from Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. This opens new issues towards how we maintain safety and stability, nationally and internationally. More particular, what conflict resolution approaches should be used in dealing with terroritsts, fro example? Or, what changes should be made in the security system of our country, in order to be tuned in with the Euro-Atlantic standards and thus become more effective and reliable in dealing with the new forms of security challenges the whole Europe is facing? Relevant literature highlights negotiation, mediation, and dialogue as most important conflict resolution strategies. Therefore, in the following pages we will review the possibilities and limitations of the mentioned strategies in dealing with new international security challenges.