In January 1970 a peace studies committee submitted a petition to the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin which urged the establishment of a formal, peace-related instructional program. This request arose from a concern that was prominent during the Vietnam War era over the presence on the Madison campus of the military establishment and the absence of peace-related activities. Although a peace studies department did not develop, the committee moved beyond the university setting, expanded its initial emphasis upon war to focus on broader societal conflicts such as violence and prejudice, and formed the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR).
The center's early programs centered on three major concerns: education, research, and non-violent training (through its Non-violent Training and Education Collective). From this original focus on education about conflict and development of skills for dealing with social problems, the center extended its program to include a resource center; Briarpatch, an agency for runaways; a communications project; and the creation of a life center. It has also sponsored numerous workshops and conferences. Although CCR has been primarily concerned with the Madison community, the center is represented on the international Consortium on Peace Research, Education, and Development.
