In Elusive Peace: How Modern Diplomatic Strategies Could Better Resolve World Conflicts, Noll argues the key failure in current diplomatic efforts is the entrenched belief that nations, through their representatives, will act rationally to further theirpolitical, economicand strategic interests, while research indicates emotional and irrational factors often have as much, if not more, to do with the success or failure of a mediated solution. For Noll, building trust and creating a climate of empathy is the key to successful negotiation.
A former attorney, Noll is a professional mediator based in Clovis (nollassociates.com). He is chair of the board and professor at San Joaquin College of Law. He also hosts The Doug Noll Show, an Internet radio show streamed Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Pacific on wsRadio.com and is a nationally recognized author, speaker, trainer and lecturer on mediation, peacemaking, ethics and leadership. Noll's other publications include Sex, Politics and Religion at the Office (with John F. Boogaert); "The Neuropsychology of Conflict," chapter 3 in The Psychology of Resolving Global Conflicts, edited by M. Fitzduff and C.E. Stout; and Peacemaking: Practicing at the Intersection of Law and Human Conflict.
Elusive Peace is available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Pictured left to right: Janice Pearson, J.D., SJCL dean; James McCann, SJCL/FPU coop program student; Noll; Duane Ruth-Heffelbower, J.D., FPU associate professor and director of the Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies; and Dalton Reimer, Ph.D., FPU faculty emeritus and CPACS co-founder.