David Alpher

Adjunct Professor at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University

David Alpher, PhD, has spent the past fourteen years applying conflict resolution theory and methodology to practical international development work in fragile and unstable areas. He has twice led field programs in Anbar Province, Iraq; first working to reduce the involvement of youth in the insurgency in 2007 and 08, and then working to peacefully reintegrate Internally Displaced People in the Ramadi district in 2010. In addition he has worked with track two dialogues between conflicting parties in Israel/Palestine, conducted conflict and development assessments in Nepal and Ethiopia, and helped facilitate inter-religious dialogues in the US. Dr. Alpher completed his PhD from the School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University in 2011.

In addition to continuing field work, Dr. Alpher teaches courses on development and conflict, global conflict issues and terrorism at George Mason University. His dissertation, entitled "Developmental Politics: The Minnow and the Leviathan," examined the nature of democratization as an alternative to poverty alleviation as the driving force behind success in international development work. His focus of research is on issues relating to policy and action reform within the development field, development implementation in areas of ongoing conflict, civil-military coordination and complex operations, and on ethnic and religious conflict. He has published scholarly work on the nature of mass violence, as well as writing articles in OpenDemocracy, Politico and Bitterlemons International, among others, on the nature of policy reform within development work, and political stability in Iraq and Israel/Palestine, and has been quoted both domestically and internationally about domestic right-wing extremism in the United States. Dr. Alpher has briefed Congress, non-governmental organizations and a range of offices of the US Government on development and security policy in the Middle East, and speaks frequently at area universities. Dr. Alpher also earned his MS degree from the School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution, focusing on ethnic and religious conflict, and is a BA alumnus of Brandeis University's history department.