training manual for conflict management
manuelledezma
Ch13ManagingSocialConflict.pptxManaging Social Conflict
Chapter 13
The clash of worldviews
Intractable issues (Social conflicts; societal conflicts)- Cannot be solve by communication and negotiation techniques alone because they involve different and conflicting values, beliefs, and rituals.
Central or lies at the core of our worldview (Social/cultural, religious, economic, political).
Fueled by distrust and dislike of other groups.
Self-perpetuating and difficult to resolve.
What is a Worldview?
What is Your Worldview?
The Importance of your Worldview
What is a worldview?
Worldview is the way one interprets the world based on how you were socialized at home, place of worship and school.
Composite of values, beliefs and rituals.
Value- What we hold dear (e.g. Freedom, equal opportunity, home, car, friendship etc.) Value makes up ethics (moral view), which defines if something is good or bad.
Beliefs- Are related to knowledge and may or may not be true.
Rituals- Symbolic actions that reinforce your beliefs and values.
What is your worldview?
We all have a worldview impacted by school, home, place of worship.
Understanding your worldview can help you to make difficult decisions.
We are rarely aware of out worldview unless it is challenged.
We can’t assume everyone thinks like us.
The importance of your worldview
Worldviews drives our behaviors
| Question | Person 1 | Person 2 |
| What is a human being? | A human being is a divinely created organism reflecting the image of God | A human being is a highly evolved animal |
| What is the ultimate reality? | God is the holder of all time and purpose | The universe is moving toward a state of disorder |
| What happens to people at death? | They live eternally, either with or without God | They die. Their bodies return to earth |
| What is the good? | Serving God’s purpose | Making a good living for oneself |
Patriotism vs nationalism
Patriotism- Love for one’s country and willingness to defend it.
Nationalism- Love of one’s nation… once it has exterminated all its enemies, become totally unified, and achieved its grand purpose of world-historical destiny.
Avoid saying “Republicans (or Democratics) think __________,” because not all members of one party agree.
When worldviews clash: conflicts between you and “the other”
- The “other” is a generic term to refer to members of the out-group.
- The term is often used in moral conflicts (conflict based on views of right/wrong).
- Participants in a moral conflict treat each other as mad, sick, stupid, feeling they can’t reason with people “like that.”
- What makes perfect sense to one person may seem ridiculous to another when based on their values.
Each party refuses to listen to the other person.
Conflict becomes more entrenched.
Discourse becomes simplified and shallow- Slogans and simple answer replace arguments and reasoning
As discourse fails, violence becomes more likely
Characteristics of intractable issues
- Actors: Involves states or other actors with long sense of historical grievance and strong desire to avenge these.
- Duration: Usually takes place over long period of time.
- Intangibles: For example, identity, sovereignty, rituals, beliefs.
- Relationships: Involve polarized perceptions of hostility and enmity, and violent/destructive behavior.
- Geopolitics: Buffer states exists between power blocks or civilizations.
- Resist management: Resist conflict management effort and have history of failed peacemaking efforts.
Intractable conflict often revolve around these beliefs
- One person/group seeks to deny another person/group their sense of self, or denies the legitimacy of their identity.
- One person/group seeks to deny another person/group fundamental needs e.g. security or pursuing one’s goals.
- One person/group seeks to put themselves ahead of others in the social, political, or economic structure.
- One group seeks to control resources in a win-lose conflict where no expansion of the resources is possible.
Ways of approaching “the other”: critical and ripeness theories
Critical theory- Analyzes power relations to uncover oppression, exploitation and justice
Core of theory- Unequal distribution of power resulting in oppression (domination or exploitation).
Injustice- Occurs when patterns of exploitation are perpetuated and controlled through dominant social classes.
Power abuse is not always overt- They may restrict access to information or resources without seeming like the perpetrator.
Practitioners advocate for changing situation and social justice outcomes
Approaching conflict from critical theory assumptions
Conflict manager examines his/her own assumptions about the conflict
Look for ways people are allowed to access the expression of their ideas on the conflict
Use communication, mediation and negotiation to analyze problem, and look for solution (though it may be far off)
Ways of approaching “the other”: critical and ripeness theories
Ripeness theory- Participants seek to reduce pain, and willing to explore alternatives.
Ripeness occurs when participants in a conflict realize that they are involved in a mutually hurting stalemate and recognize mutually enticing opportunity.
Ripeness is based on two core motives: 1) Pain and 2) Opportunities to escape from pain.
Approaching conflict from critical theory assumptions
Look for factors that might strengthen positive attitudes towards alternatives to the conflict.
Recognize the factors that create pain for the participants in the current situation. Realize that continuing with the status quo increases pain and suffering.
Look for factors that make destructive conflict less attractive and peace more so.
