Understanding Conflict and Conflict Management

Understanding Conflict and Conflict Management

Pitambar BhandariAssistant Professor

Department of Conflict Peace and Development Studies TU

SEP 23 2011

Is Conflict necessary or not

Definition of conflict

bull The term Conflict is defined as bull A struggle to resist or overcome contest of

opposing forces or powers strife battle bull A state or condition of opposition antagonism

discord the conflict of testimony bull Active antagonism clash collisionbull Psychoanalyst painful tension set up by a clash

between opposed and contradictory impulses in an individual (Websters comprehensive dictionary 1996

Definition

bull If you want peace understand the war ndash Liddle hart bull The story of the human race is war and before history

began murderous strife was universal and unending ndash Churchil

bull ldquoConflict is the result of opposing interests involving scarce resources goal divergence and frustrationrdquo ndash Niklas Swanstrom

bull Conflict shouldnrsquot be defined simply in terms of violence (behavior) or hostility attitudes) but also include incompatibility or difference in issues positionrdquo ndash Otto Czempiel

Definition

bull ldquoA situation in which two or more parties strive to acquire the same scarce resources at the same timerdquo ndash Peter Wallensteen

bull ldquoPerceived differences in issue positions between two or more parties at the same moment in timerdquo - Mikael Weissmann

Types of conflict

On the basis of the nature and form of conflict it has been divided into five categories

bull Structural conflict bull IdeologicalTheoretical Conflict bull Interest Based Conflict bull Factual Conflict bull Relational Conflict

Typesbull Structural Differences and disagreements on the state structure-

constitution act and different law of the nation This type of conflict prevails on the issues of unequal distribution of national resources

bull Ideological Differences on norms values and ideology create the conflict

bull Interest Based Differences in interest will and wishes among the people Conflict remains in the latent and sometimes on the surface

bull Factual Some Published fact and information might create conflict among individuals group and parties Issues concerning the border of the two countries result of the election etc

bull Relational Lack of communication mis-understanding misinterpretation misconception of opponent

Armed conflictbull UCDP uses concept of lsquoArmed Conflictrsquo amp focuses on lsquoConflict Resolutionrsquobull CDP defines conflict as a contested incompatibility that concerns government or territory or both

where the use of armed forces between parties results in at least 25 battle related deaths in a yearbull UCDP divides conflicts into three categoriesbull Minor Armed Conflicts at least 25 battle related deaths in a yearbull Intermediate Armed Conflicts More than 25 amp less than 1000 battle related deaths in a yearbull War at least 1000 battle related deaths in a year Uppsala Conflict Data Projectsbull Conflicts are divided according to types of conflictbull Interstate Armed Conflict ndash occur between two or more statesbull Internationalized Internal Armed Conflict ndash occurs between the government of a state amp internal

opposition groups with intervention from other states in the form of troopsbull Internal Armed Conflict ndash occurs between the government of a state and internal opposition groupbull UCDP aims to connect its data to development of conflict theory ndash specially in particular theories of

Conflict Resolutionbull Uppsala Conflict Data Project is the major massive and well funded research project in the world

Stages

bull Latent Conflict Parties have different interests or incompatible goal Hidden

bull Confrontational Open-people do not listen anymore to the arguments of the opponent

bull Crisis Escalation of violence Communication between the parties has come to an end

bull Outcome Defeat of one side or a cease fire bull Post conflict Conflict resolved But if the issues are

not dealt properly another pre-conflict situation will rise

Reasons and issues of Conflict

bull Differences and contradictions about bull Goals bull Power bull Ideas bull Values bull Perception bull Access to resources bull Grievances

Conflict within the individual

bull Anger bull Self ndash hatred bull Addiction bull Revenge bull Blame

Interpersonal Conflict

bull Marital tension bull Family strife bull Disputes with friends and neighbors bull Conflict at work or school

Family Conflict

Members pursue self-interest over the welfare of family

bull Infidelity bull Money issues bull Sibling rivalry bull Careerism bull Alcoholism bull Family power and resource sharing bull Position change

Social Conflict

bull Religion bull Ethnic Tension bull Legal disputes bull Abuse of power bull War

What is the position of peace then

Conflict ManagementConflict Resolution

or Conflict Transformation

The approach of the Conflict Management school is to end wars through different diplomatic initiatives This is the oldest school of thought closely linked to the institutionalization of peacebuilding in international law1048698 The peacebuilders within the logic of this school are external diplomats from bilateral or multilateral organizations1048698 Its theoretical approach is referred to as outcome-oriented approach which aims to identify and bring to the negotiating table leaders of the conflict parties Its main focus is on the short-term management of the armed conflict

Conflict Management is a process of making progress ndash developing mutual gains of both parties achieving agreements lying foundations for further negotiations or managing the conflict as much as possible to reduce violence1048698 In legal sense ndash CM is application of existing laws amp regulations to ensure the rights amp provides remedies that reconcile past prejudices1048698 In the political discourse management of conflict is sharing of power and privileges1048698 Two schools of thoughts prevails within CM Discourse1048698 Conflict as lsquoPathological amp Dysfunctionalrsquo ndash needs to be suppressed or end it1048698 Conflict as functional means for lsquoSocial Changersquo ndash constructive social process

Power mediation is a special form of conflict management with the same criteria as the outcome-oriented approach but including the possibility of applying external power including financial carrots andor military sticks on the parties

Conflict Resolution

bull What Bridge between a very narrow concept of peace (no war) and a very broad one (justice)

How

When

Armed conflict and conflict resolution

bull CR as a situation where the conflicting parties enter into an agreement that solves their central incompatibilities accept each otherrsquos continued existence as parties and cease all violent action against each other

bull Agreement A formal understanding a document signed may be informal requires trust

Peace Agreement is the Integral part of conflict Resolution

bull Trust versus Testbull A 10-year long armed conflict and the conflict

resolution practice has many dimensionsbull 12-point Understanding between CPN

(Maoist) and Seven Political Parties in 2005 in Delhi

bull Comprehensive Peace accord 2006

Major Challenges in promoting culture of Peace in Nepal

bull Conflict Dynamicsbull Impunitybull Lack of strong and accountable governmentbull Intra party conflictbull Formation of youth militia type of organizations by the

major political partiesbull Delay in implementing the major provision mentioned in

CPA 2006 bull Underlying ethnic tensionbull Reintegration and rehabilitation of Maoist ex-combatants

If conflict is necessary then why to resolve

Thank You