Faculty

Mark Davidheiser , Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Phone: (954) 262-3064
Fax: (954) 262-3968
Email: davidhei@nsu.nova.edu
Curriculum Vitae

Mark Davidheiser is a socio-cultural anthropologist who specializes in Peace and Conflict and African Studies. His 15 years of work in these areas addresses a variety of theoretical, applied, and policy issues. Dr. Davidheiser’s research is used in anthropology and conflict resolution courses at universities in multiple countries, and it is cited in scholarly publications and textbooks. Peace and Conflict Studies programs at several universities have invited him as a speaker and program consultant.

Selected topical specializations include:

Davidheiser’s approach to conflict analysis and resolution flows from an interdisciplinary perspective informed by the three main bases of his expertise: 1) critical analysis of the scholarly, applied, & policy literature, 2) original field research, and 3) practitioner & trainer experience.

His conflict resolution background encompasses varied conflict resolution methodologies. These include conflict prevention & management and peacebuilding, as well as practice models like mediation, bargaining, and negotiation. His work also incorporates problem-solving, facilitative, and interest-based approaches and advanced techniques such as intercultural, narrative, and transformative strategies. Davidheiser’s experience as a trainer includes basic training for prospective mediators, training and simulations in international negotiation & mediation, multilateral mediation, and aggression replacement and anti-racism training for youths.

In addition to his faculty post in Nova Southeastern University’s Dept. of Conflict Analysis & Resolution, Davidheiser is Director of the Africa Peace and Conflict Network (www.africapeace.org). The Network is an association of individuals & institutions dedicated to advancing positive peace in Africa through knowledge generation & dissemination and praxis. Click here to join the Africa Peace and Conflict Network Email List.

Other research institutions also call on Davidheiser’s expertise. He is Executive Committee Member of the Organisation of Intra-Cultural Development (www.oicd.net), and he served as Academic Director for the International Institute of Mediation & Conflict Resolution’s Prague 2006 accredited course & training seminar on international negotiation & conflict resolution, for instance.

In addition to peer and book reviewing for various scholarly journals, Davidheiser is Associate Editor of the African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, Editor of Global Ethnographic, Editorial Board Member of Peace and Conflict Studies and of the Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences, and Advisory Board Member of African Studies Quarterly. He also spearheaded the establishment of a forthcoming journal, Review of African Conflicts and Peacebuilding.

With support from various grants and fellowships, Davidheiser’s research employs qualitative, quantitative, participatory, and ethnographic methods. A favored strategy is using methodological triangulation to illuminate the contours and boundaries of sociocultural consensus, broaden the scope of his studies, and enhance the reliability of project findings.

One major interest is local methods of conflict mitigation and their interactions and hybridization with imported dispute processing practices. He has conducted field studies in Eritrea, The Gambia, and Senegal and taught courses on that subject.

In addition to his work in Africa, Davidheiser has done field research on the Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute. That study explored the connections between young Navajo relocation resisters and their homesites on the Hopi Partitioned Lands. Additional research studies conducted by Davidheiser are detailed in his curriculum vitae.

Current projects include:

Traditional Authorities in the 21st Century: Development, decentralization, and customary authority & law

Sociocultural Dimensions of Conflict Resolution Interventions: Peacebuilding in the Global South

Legal reform, ADR, and Vulnerable Populations: Social justice & efficacy concerns in The Gambia and beyond, 2004-2006

Classes

Possible elective courses:
These will be provided if student interest exists.

Links

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Africa resource library: http://wwwau.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/africa02/aftoc02.htm

Click here to join the email listserve of the Africa Working Group on Peace and Conflict

Africa Peace and Conflict Network website: http://www.africaworkinggroup.org/

If you have ideas or proposals for the Africa Group (e.g. activities, events, or projects), send them to Dr. Davidheiser