نهر المشاعر
5th August 2008, 06:06 PM
Conflict Resolution
What is Conflict? Conflict is a natural and very typical phenomenon in every type of human relationships, at every level: From intra-personal to global. Conflicts at every level have very significant common characteristics and dynamics, and, therefore, it makes sense to examine them together and comparatively. Why do people get involved in conflicts? People get involved in conflicts because their interests or their values are challenged, or because their needs are not met. Some may ask what a resolution to a conflict is? In the field of conflict resolution, 'conflict resolution' is a peaceful and mutually satisfactory way to end or significantly and hopefully permanently de-escalate a conflict.
You can end a conflict through violence or war and by destroying your opponent. You can also end a conflict by surrender and capitulation. Or, you can temporarily de-intensify a conflict by deceiving your opponent. Yet, we do not regard such options as conflict resolution. And they do not resolve a conflict, anyway. The conflict remains; it just loses its intensity. It is easy to resolve or help resolve a conflict stemming from a clash of interests. It is more difficult to deal with a conflict that emanates f
. . .
When groups are engaged in reciprocally competitive and frustrating activities of a zero-sum nature, each group will develop negative stereotypes about, and enmity toward, the other group (the out-group) Sherif, Muzafer 1966). Minorities tend to believe that their identity is not recognized, that they are given less opportunities for development, and that their culture (and sometimes their existence) is under threat. And it is almost impossible for them to achieve conflict resolution, if they do not have the willingness to work towards it. It is really difficult to help such people deal constructively with their conflicts. And it is even more difficult to handle a conflict in which at least one party's basic human needs are not satisfied. A membership group is a group of which the individual is (in actuality) willingly or unwillingly a member. Yet, some conflicts cannot be resolved without the help of an intermediary, a third party.
Ethnic conflicts, especially conflicts between ethnic minorities and majorities tend to be intractable. ) inter-group hostility emerged very quickly and almost automatically (Sherif, Muzafer 1966). Majorities, on the other hand, may also perceive minorities as a threat to their security, especially if the minority leaders cooperate with enemy countries. The parties may then project their negative emotions and energies to the causes of conflict and may cooperate with each other to eliminate them (McIntosh, Mary E. Problems between majority and minority communities that could be handled rather easily in the rational realm have become complicated due to the way ethno cultural groups identify and perceive themselves and 'the others' (the 'out-group'), and the way they perceive their history and the threats directed towards their existence.
What is Conflict? Conflict is a natural and very typical phenomenon in every type of human relationships, at every level: From intra-personal to global. Conflicts at every level have very significant common characteristics and dynamics, and, therefore, it makes sense to examine them together and comparatively. Why do people get involved in conflicts? People get involved in conflicts because their interests or their values are challenged, or because their needs are not met. Some may ask what a resolution to a conflict is? In the field of conflict resolution, 'conflict resolution' is a peaceful and mutually satisfactory way to end or significantly and hopefully permanently de-escalate a conflict.
You can end a conflict through violence or war and by destroying your opponent. You can also end a conflict by surrender and capitulation. Or, you can temporarily de-intensify a conflict by deceiving your opponent. Yet, we do not regard such options as conflict resolution. And they do not resolve a conflict, anyway. The conflict remains; it just loses its intensity. It is easy to resolve or help resolve a conflict stemming from a clash of interests. It is more difficult to deal with a conflict that emanates f
. . .
When groups are engaged in reciprocally competitive and frustrating activities of a zero-sum nature, each group will develop negative stereotypes about, and enmity toward, the other group (the out-group) Sherif, Muzafer 1966). Minorities tend to believe that their identity is not recognized, that they are given less opportunities for development, and that their culture (and sometimes their existence) is under threat. And it is almost impossible for them to achieve conflict resolution, if they do not have the willingness to work towards it. It is really difficult to help such people deal constructively with their conflicts. And it is even more difficult to handle a conflict in which at least one party's basic human needs are not satisfied. A membership group is a group of which the individual is (in actuality) willingly or unwillingly a member. Yet, some conflicts cannot be resolved without the help of an intermediary, a third party.
Ethnic conflicts, especially conflicts between ethnic minorities and majorities tend to be intractable. ) inter-group hostility emerged very quickly and almost automatically (Sherif, Muzafer 1966). Majorities, on the other hand, may also perceive minorities as a threat to their security, especially if the minority leaders cooperate with enemy countries. The parties may then project their negative emotions and energies to the causes of conflict and may cooperate with each other to eliminate them (McIntosh, Mary E. Problems between majority and minority communities that could be handled rather easily in the rational realm have become complicated due to the way ethno cultural groups identify and perceive themselves and 'the others' (the 'out-group'), and the way they perceive their history and the threats directed towards their existence.