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Understanding Conflict
Core Concepts
Intractable Conflicts Defined
» What Are Intractable Conflicts?
» Nature of Intractability
» Characteristics of Intractable Conflicts
» Conflicts and Disputes
Alternative Goals
» Interests, Positions, Needs and Values
» Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA)
» Zone of Possible Agreement (ZOPA)
» Ripeness
» Settlement, Resolution, Management, or Transformation
» Tolerance
» Coexistence
» Legitimacy
» Security
» Stable Peace
Justice
» Principles of Justice and Fairness
» Types of Justice
» Restorative Justice
» Retributive Justice
» Procedural Justice
» Distributive Justice
International Law
» International Law
» Rule of Law
» Jus Ad Bellum
» Jus in Bello
» Rights
» Sovereignty
Causes
» Causes of Disputes and Conflicts
Identity Issues
» Identity Issues
» Effects of Colonization
» Nationalism
» Religion and Conflict
» Scapegoating
Oppression and Conflict
» Oppression and Conflict: Introduction
» The Nature and Origins of Oppression
» Forms of Oppression
» Maintaining Oppression
» Overcoming Oppression: Awakening the Sense of Injustice
» Overcoming Oppression Through Persuasion
» Overcoming Oppression with Power
High-Stakes Distributional Issues
» High-stakes Distributional Issues
» Rich / Poor Conflicts
» Social Status
» Globalization
» Moral or Value Conflicts
» Unmet Human Needs
» Justice Conflicts
» Human Rights Violations
» Effects of Colonization
» Small Arms Trade
Costs & Benefits
» Costs and Benefits of Intractable Conflict
Costs of Conflict
» Costs of Intractable Conflict
» Damaged or Destroyed Relationships
» Decision Making Delay
» Violence--overview
» Interpersonal Conflict and Violence
» War
» Terrorism
» Suicide Bombers
» War Crimes
» Genocide
» Refugees
» Victimhood
» Humiliation
» Benefits of Conflict
Dynamics
» Factors Shaping the Course of Intractable Conflict
Conflict Stages
» Conflict Stages
» Latent Conflict Stage
» Conflict Emergence Stage
» Escalation and Institutionalization Stages
» Failed Peacemaking Efforts Stage
» Hurting Stalemate Stage
» De-escalation Stage
» Negotiation Stage
» Settlement Stage
» Peacebuilding and Reconciliation Stage
Social Psychological Dynamics of Conflict
» Social Psychological Dimensions of Conflict
Psychological Dynamics
» Psychological Dynamics
» Limits of Rationality
» Ethos of Conflict
» Siege Mentality
» Delegitimization
» Dehumanization
» Victimhood
» Cognitive Dissonance
» Game Theory
Frames, Framing, and Reframing
» Frames, Framing, and Reframing
» Interests, Rights, Power and Needs Frames
» Cultural and Worldview Frames
» Process Frames
» Competitive and Cooperative Approaches to Conflict
» Identity Frames
» Stereotypes / Characterization Frames
» Enemy Images
» Prejudice
» Into-the-sea Framing
» Fact Frames
» Worst-case / Loss-oriented Frames
» Reframing
Emotions
» Emotions
» Anger
» Fear
» Distrust
» Guilt and Shame
» Humiliation
» Face
Escalation/De-Escalation
» Escalation and Related Processes
» Destructive Escalation
» Constructive Escalation
» Polarization
» Entrapment
» Limiting Escalation / De-escalation
Complexity
» Complexity
» Complex Adaptive Systems
People
Parties to Intractable Conflict
» Parties to Intractable Conflict
» Disputants
» Leaders and Leadership
» Stakeholder Representatives
Intermediaries
» Intermediaries
» Formal Intermediaries
» Informal Intermediaries
» Bystanders
Within-Party Differences
» Within-party Differences
» Moderates
» Conflict Profiteers
Extremists and Spoilers
» Extremists or Spoilers
» Dealing with Extremists
» Humanization of Extremists
» Mediating Evil, War, and Terrorism: the Politics of Conflict
» External Supporters
Third Siders
» Third Siders
» Bridge Builders
» Facilitators
» Mediators
» Arbitrators
» Educators
» Witnesses
» Peacekeepers
» Healers
» Equalizers
» Referees
» Providers
» Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)
» Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
Development and Conflict
» Development and Conflict
» Development and Conflict Theory
» Development Interventions and Conflict
» Development and Conflict in Practice: People Interviewed
» Development, Poverty and Conflict
» Development, Education and Conflict
» Development, Gender and Conflict
» Development, Health and Conflict
» Development, the Environment and Conflict
» Global Partnerships and Development
Power
» Power
Coercive Power
» Coercive Power
» Aggression
» Revenge and the Backlash Effect
» Sanctions
» Nonviolence and Nonviolent Direct Action
Exchange Power
» Exchange Power
» Incentives
Integrative Power
» Integrative Power
» Persuasion
» Nonviolence and Nonviolent Direct Action
» Power Inequities
» Empowerment
» Voice
» Capacity Building
» Networking
» Coalition Building
» Activism
» Social Movements
Culture and Conflict
» Culture and Conflict
» Culture-based Negotiation Styles
» Rituals and Conflict Transformation
» Cross-cultural Communication
» Communication Tools for Understanding Cultural Differences
» Mediation and Multiculturalism
» Special Affinities and Conflict Resolution: West African Social Institutions and Mediation
» Cultural and Worldview Frames
» Women and Intractable Conflict
Relationships
Relationship Problems
» Damaged or Destroyed Relationships
» Identity Issues
» Face
Improving Relationships
» Establishment of Personal Relationships
» Networking
» Cooling off Periods
» De-escalating Gestures
» Confidence-building Measures
» Managing Interpersonal Trust and Distrust
» Trust and Trust Building
» Respect
Conflict Transformation
» Conflict Transformation
» Reconciliation
» Apology and Forgiveness
Communication
» Interpersonal / Small-scale Communication
» Channels of Communication
» Misunderstandings
» Creating Safe Spaces for Communication
» Dialogue
» Narratives and Story-telling
» Conversation as a Tool of Conflict Transformation
» Empathic Listening
» I-messages and You-messages
» Escalation-limiting Language
» Communication Tools for Understanding Cultural Differences
» Cross-cultural Communication
» Metaphors
» Rumor Control
Media
» Large-scale Communication
» Mass Media
» Media Strategies
» Political Communication
» Public Diplomacy
» Propaganda
Facts
» Theories of Knowledge
Factual Disputes
» Factual Disputes
» Technical Facts
» Historical Facts
» Legal Facts
» Land and Property Rights in the Peace Process
Fact Finding
» Fact-finding
» Distinguishing Facts from Values
» Uncertainty
» Obtaining Trustworthy Information
» Neutral Fact-finding
» Joint Fact-finding
» Oversight / Review Committee
» Truth Commissions
» Amnesty
» International War Crimes Tribunals
» Communicating Facts
Intervention Processes and Outcomes
Options and Strategies
» Countering Intractability
» Theories of Change
» Peaceful Change Strategies
» Intervention Processes
» Addressing Underlying Causes of Conflict
» Managing Interpersonal Trust and Distrust
» Intervention Coordination
» Meta-conflict Resolution
» The Scale-up Problem
» Incrementalism
Assessment and Evaluation
» Conflict Assessment
» Conflict Mapping
» Early Warning
» Envisioning
» Setting Goals
» Evaluation and Assessment of Interventions
» Evaluation as a Tool for Reflection
» Formative Evaluation
» Action Evaluation
Negotiation
» Negotiation
Negotiation Theory
» Negotiation Theory
» Win-win / Win-lose / Lose-lose Situations
» Positive-sum / Zero-sum / Negative-sum Situations
» Interests
» Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA)
» Zone of Possible Agreement (ZOPA)
» Ripeness
» Compromise
» Limits of Rationality
Negotiation Strategies
» Negotiation Strategies
» Integrative or Interest-based Bargaining
» Distributive Bargaining
» Positional Bargaining
» Creating and Claiming Value
» Culture-based Negotiation Styles
» Single-text Negotiation
Mediation and Facilitation
» Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
» Facilitation
Mediation
» Mediation
» The Culture of Mediation: Settlement Vs. Resolution
» Problem-solving Mediation
» Transformative Mediation
» Neutrality
» Insider-partial Mediation
» International Mediation and Intractable Conflict
» Mediation and Multiculturalism
» Special Affinities and Conflict Resolution: West African Social Institutions and Mediation
» Mediating Evil, War, and Terrorism: the Politics of Conflict
Mediation Strategies and Techniques
» Mediators Without Borders: a Proposal to Resolve Political Conflicts
» Convening Processes
» Ripeness-promoting Strategies
» Ground Rules
» Sequencing Strategies and Tactics
» Reframing
» Option Identification
» Focusing on Commonalities
» Caucus
» Reality Testing
» Consensus Building
» Costing
» Policy Dialogue
» Shuttle Diplomacy
» Action-forcing Mechanisms
» Trust in Mediation
» Codes of Conduct for Intervenors
Arbitration and Adjudication
» Arbitration
» Adjudication
» Hybrid Processes
» Grievance Procedures
Peace Processes
» Peace Processes
Preventive Diplomacy and International Violence Prevention
» Preventive Diplomacy and International Violence Prevention
» Peace Education
» International Regimes
» Globalization
» Mobilization Slowing
» Military Force Restructuring
» Arms Control and Non-proliferation
» Disarmament
» Human Rights Protection
» Protective Accompaniment
» Safe Havens
» Buffer Zones
» Arms Embargo
» Preventing Interpersonal Violence
Peacemaking
» Peacemaking
» Diplomacy
» Track I Diplomacy
» Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
» Track II (Citizen) Diplomacy
» Problem-solving Workshops
» Track I - Track II Cooperation
» Multi-track Diplomacy
» Military Intervention
» Peace Agreements
Peacekeeping
» Peacekeeping
Peacebuilding
» Peacebuilding
Levels of Action
» Levels of Action
» Elites
» Midlevel Actors
» Grassroots Actors
» The Scale-up Problem
» Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs)
» Religion and Peace
» Conflict Transformation
» The Transformation of Labor-management Conflicts
» Recognition
» Humanitarian Aid and Development Assistance
» Important Skills for Humanitarian Professionals Working in a Contemporary Conflict Environment
» Stabilization and the Problem of Insurgency
» Trauma Healing
» Envisioning
» Joint Projects
» Drama in Conflict Transformation
» Apology and Forgiveness
» Respect
» Humanization
» Humanizing Extremists
» Reconciliation
Nation Building
» Nation Building
» Democratization
» Democracy and Conflict Management
» Elections
» Election Monitoring
» Civil Society
» Civic Education
» Public Participation
» Challenges and Strategies for Democratic Participation
Transitional Justice
» Truth Commissions
» International War Crimes Tribunals
» Lustration
» Power Sharing
» Land and Property Rights in the Peace Process
Training as Intervention
» Conflict Transformation Training as Intervention
» Elicitive Training
Outcomes of Intervention
» Settlement, Resolution, Management, or Transformation
» The Culture of Mediation: Settlement Vs. Resolution
» Conflict Transformation
» Ceasefire
» Tolerance
» Coexistence
» Stable Peace
Peace Agreements
» Peace Agreements
Structural Components of Peace Agreements
» Structural Components of Peace Agreements
» Ceasefire
» Addressing Injustice
» Self-determination Procedures
» Social Structural Change
» Security Guarantees
» Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration of Ex-combatants
» Reconstruction
» Compensation and Reparations
Procedural Components of Peace Agreements
» Procedural Components of Peace Agreements
» Designing New Dispute Resolution Systems
» Grassroots Process Design
» Monitoring of Agreements
» Enforcement Mechanisms
