James S. Oppenheim's Page

What motivated you (or your organization) to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?

I've been blogging about conflict for about two years and am involved very much in the cultural, literary, and psychological drivers of conflict as well as impediments associated with the adequate address of certain threats.

Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself or the work of your organization (no more than 3 paragraphs)

JAMES S. OPPENHEIM has published in Equus, The North American Review, The Washington Post and Firehouse Magazine, worked as managing editor of the University of Maryland graduate literary magazine, Ethos. He has also had a life in music, producing one album and playing venues from cabin porches in West Virginia to bars in Florida. Today finds him in Hagerstown, Maryland as a photographer, singer/songwriter, and the editor of a blog-- Oppenheim Arts & Letters devoted to the understanding of political conflicts and small wars, as well as the appreciation of international culture, and, albeit in translation (he speaks only English), language.

Please list the countries and/or regions in which you (or your organization) have direct and significant expertise

From my second row seat to history (i.e., the Internet), I've followed the war news most closely in Pakistan and Somalia. From time to time I've strayed and have commented on affairs in Zimbabwe and Kenya as well. As a Jew, I've had the odd experience of learning more about Islam than I had ever about Judaism, so I'm now working on balancing that as I move forward in my intellectual journey.

What is your current country of residence (or location of your organization)?

United States

What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?

I own Communicating Arts in Maryland, a photography practice, but live most as an artist-intellectual, free for a little while to respond to curiosity and pursue a course suited to my mind, spirit, and temperament.

What is your personal or organizational website?

http://www.communicating-arts.com

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://commart.typepad.com

What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)

http://www.meforum.org/

Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise (or the primary sectoral areas of your organization) ?

Culture, Media, Psychosocial, Terrorism

Which are your primary skills areas(or the primary skill areas of your organization)?

Communication, Monitoring, Research

What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?

I've been following the Islamic Small Wars, delving into both Judaic and Islamic studies (I'm very tenderfoot in both), and winding my way through issues in observation and perception, ethics and spirituality, and the character of internecine violence.

If appropriate feel free to list several of your (or your organization's) publications

Oppenheim Arts & Letters: http://commart.typepad.com

My creative work has appeared in the following:

Alioth
Ethos
The North American Review
The First Saffron Short Story Collection

I have poems coming out this spring in the literary publication In the Silence of This Room.

As a journalist, I've published features in several magazines and newspapers, including The Washington Post (most relevant here, I covered the sundance hosted by the Piscataway of Port Tobacco, Maryland for the Post's Maryland Weekly section).

Old news--all that.