Dr Rhys Kelly - Staff Profile

NameDr Rhys Kelly
Contact PositionLecturer in Conflict Resolution
Email Addressr.h.s.kelly2@bradford.ac.uk

Research Areas

My background is in Conflict Resolution, with specific interests in memory and reconciliation in post-war societies, and peace education. Over the last few years the focus of my work has shifted to take account of the pressing challenges posed by ecological crises (including climate change) and resource depletion (including ‘peak oil’). Retaining a long-standing interest in (peace) education, my work is now broadly concerned with investigating what kinds of individual and social learning are needed and possible in the context of increasing global insecurity, which might support just and peaceful transitions to more resilient, ‘sustainable’ communities. The capacity of individuals and communities to adapt positively to change and adversity is closely related to their knowledge, skills and dispositions; learning is central to adaptation. Under what conditions, and through which (formal or informal) processes, can learning for adaptation or transition occur?

Teaching

Modules taught:

  • Conflict and Cooperation (Introduction to Conflict Analysis and Resolution)
  • Concepts and Practices of Peacemaking
  • Culture and Conflict Resolution
  • Ethics in Humanitarian and Peace Practice
  • Sustainability in Practice
  • Permaculture Design Course (from 2011)

I supervise on a range of dissertation topics related to Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding, Education for Peace and Sustainability.

Other Professional Interests

Pedagogy for Peace Practitioners: I am interested in the professionalization of humanitarian and peace work, and what this implies for higher education providers (like Peace Studies). Together with Betts Fetherston I have been developing a research project focused on conflict resolution teaching in the Department. This work is ongoing, and will expand to include research with our alumni and other peace practitioners.

Ecoversity Pioneer 2009-10: Established Permaculture Design Course module, and ran Deliberative Forum (with Ute Kelly) on Future

Bibliography

Rhys Kelly (2007) 'Memory and Reconciliation in Post-Conflict Societies', Quaderni di Relazioni Internazionali, Number 4, pp.66-79. Special Issue on Memory and Conflict.

Betts Fetherston and Rhys Kelly (2007) 'Conflict Resolution and Transformative Pedagogy:  A Grounded Theory Research Project on Learning in Higher Education', Journal of Transformative Learning, Volume 5, Issue 4.

Rhys Kelly and Betts Fetherston (2008) "Productive Contradictions: Dissonance, Resistance and Change in an Experiment with Cooperative Learning", Journal of Peace Education, Volume 5, Issue 1, pp. 97-111.

Rhys Kelly (2008) 'Testimony, Witnessing and Digital Activism', Southern Review: Communication, Politics and Culture, 40:3, pp. 7-22.

Ute Kelly, Rhys Kelly, Steve Smith (2009) 'What Kind of Talk Does Resilience Need?', C-SAP Report.

Selected Conference Presentations

  • "Theorising 'Memory Work' as Conflict Resolution Practice" paper presented at the conference Analysing Conflict and its Resolution, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Oxford, 30th June 2004
  • "The Politics of Healing,", Paper presented at the conference Post War Conflict and Violence: Latin America in Comparative Perspective, University of Liverpool, Institute of Latin American Studies, 9-10 September, 2004.
  • All Our Futures 1 - Mapping Conversations on Resilience and Vulnerability in the Context of Future Uncertainty, September 2008, Centre for Sustainable Futures, Plymouth.
  • All Our Futures2 - Beyond Current Horizons: New Challenges and Opportunities for Education,  September 2009, Centre for Sustainable Futures, Plymouth.