These agreements and disagreements among individuals and groups lead them to conflicts. Conflict transformation represents an ambitious and demanding task, which is better equipped to contend with the asymmetric, complex and protracted nature of contemporary conflicts than prevailing techniques and approaches. This course introduces you to the concept of conflict transformation and how it differs from conflict resolution, management, and prevention. He used the change from feudal society run by the noblemen, clergy, and commoners and based upon heredity. Internal conflict a limited amount of internal conflict may indirectly contribute to group stability. Primarily conflict resolution but also maybe conflict management and conflict prevention as well. Although the definition is relatively short, its various components lend it a degree of complexity. Conflict management chalmers publication library cpl. Peacemaking circles a process for solving problems and building community the peacemaking circle is a process that brings together individuals who wish to engage in conflict resolution, healing, support, decision making or other activities in which honest communications, relationship development, and community building are core desired outcomes. Conflict transformation, in contrast, places a greater weight on. Conflict transformation is a concept designed to reframe the way in which peacebuilding initiatives are discussed and pursued, particularly in contexts of ethnic conflict. The cultural dimension refers to the ways that conflict changes the patterns of group life as well as the ways that culture affects the development of processes to handle and respond to conflict.
This is related to the conflict worker through violence practice in diagnosis, prognosis and early warning. Explain the importance of politics in the life of the. Management, resolution and transformation conflict transformation. Integrating conflict analysis and other forms of assessment 5. Peace and conflict chapteri introduction conflict transformation theory there is no way to peace, peace is the way. Whereas conflict transformation involves transforming the relationships that support violence, conflict management approaches seek to merely manage and contain conflict, and conflict resolution approaches seek to move conflict parties away from zerosum positions towards. An overview of the history and theory of transformative. Preventing conflict means behaving and communicating in a way that averts needless conflicts. Conflict transformation is different from the other two, lederach asserts, because it reflects a better understanding of the nature of conflict itself. Each of the six sections of the wheel can be further analysed using tools presented below or references to. The systemic approach to conflict transformation berghof. Try to explain key events and assess their consequences.
Principles of conflict transformation pdf format principles of conflict transformation word format. Social transformation, development and globalization. Karl marx originally adopted conflict theory to explain why society was moneyoriented. Conflict resolution is the process of reaching an agreement between the parties which are having a conflict or it is a process of reaching a consensus and improve the cooperation between the conflicting parties, conflict resolution is a way to overcome the problems of conflict. The conflict transformation model involves analysing and. Conflict, conflict prevention, conflict management and beyond. Two of the most wellknown researchers on conflict transformation, john. The meaning and implications of this definition will be easier to understand if we analyze the italicized components.
Conflict transformation conflict transformation is an approach that seeks to transform the very systems, structures and relationships which give rise to violence and injustice. The 10 most effective conflict resolution strategies the. Conflict is introduced by exploring such basic concepts in conflict theory as attitudes, behavior and contradiction. Such an approach to understanding the narrative dimensions of conflict is greatly needed if there is to be any possibility for conflict transformation between islam and the west. An introduction to conflict transformation this opening chapter presents some key definitions and concepts in conflict transformation in order to situate the methods discussed in the rest of this report within a broad theoretical framework. Conflict transformation, in contrast, places a greater weight on addressing the underlying conditions which give rise to that conflict, preferably well in advance of any hostility, but also to ensure a sustainable peace. Advocates of transformation language might suggest that the word resolution contains shortsighted tendencies toward quickfixes. Pdf multitrack diplomacy and conflict transformation. Well see how conflict offers opportunities for constructive change, and well explore different tools and methods for engaging conflict constructively. If there is no scope for occasional expression, of conflict and if it is deliberately suppressed, the. Ppt conflict transformation powerpoint presentation. A number of authors explain conflict transformation as an extension or a part of conflict resolution, while others make clear distinctions between the terms. The world has transformed rapidly in the decade since the end of the cold war. Humans create them and its they who can resolve them.
Dec 23, 2019 a conflict of interest can exist in many different situations, involving personal loyalty and loyalty to a private employer, a government employer, or a professional relationship. However, some of these terminological approaches have distinct implications for the outcome of a conflict. Pdf conflict transformation laurent goetschel academia. At a descriptive level, transformation seeks to understand how conflict affects and changes cultural patterns of a group. Conflict resolution and transformation are issues which have become very topical in debates and discussions on zimbabwe. The concept paper series is the joint centers paper series addressing topics and concepts of foremost importance for understanding the dynamics of. An old system is gone and, although it is easy to identify what has changed, it is not yet clear that a new system has taken its place. A circular journey with a purpose together in conflict transformation. Somalian women explaining the urgent drought situation in her area. Preventing conflict is not the same as avoiding conflict. Conflict transformation is possible because conflicts are inevitable in our societies. Stalenoi the peoples war and johan galtungs conflict models 34 and in a conflict more than one type of asymmetry may exist, each with variable degrees of intensity.
Equally, humans have sought, as long as there has been conflict, to handle conflict effectively by containing or reducing its negative consequences. Civil society, conflict transformation and peace building. To me its saying that there is a winwin solution to conflict, but i really have no concrete. A number of conflict theorists and practitioners, including john paul lederach, advocate the pursuit of conflict transformation, as opposed to conflict resolution or conflict management. Habibul h khondker and ulrike schuerkens, 2014, social transformation, development and globalization, sociopedia. Instead of seeing conflict as a problem to be managed and resolved, the process of conflict transformation evokes. Pdf conflict resolution and conflict transformation. Human needs theory and the conflict transformation approach are frequently used. Professor, university of wisconsinparkside, kenosha, wi, usa. Conflict analysis is the systematic study of the profile. Welcome to this first week in our conflict transformation course.
To better understand conflict transformation, an explanation of each component is needed. So conflict transformation suggests a set of lenses through which we view social conflict. Settlement, resolution, management, and transformation. Achieving conflict transformation oxfam digital repository. Peace and conflict studies is a social science field that identifies and analyzes violent and nonviolent behaviours as well as the structural mechanisms attending conflicts including social conflicts, with a view towards understanding those processes which lead to a more desirable human condition. Conflict transformation is a comprehensive approach that addresses personal, relational, structural, and cultural dimensions of conflict, using the potential for conflict as a catalyst for positive change in all of these areas. Nevertheless it is also true that a wide variety of theoretical approaches are in use among different schools of thought and practice in the field. Conflict transformation is therefore a process of engaging with and transforming the relationships, interests, discourses and, if necessary, the very constitution of society that supports the continuation of violent conflict. Conflict analysis is the systematic study of the profile, causes, actors, and dynamics of conflict see section 2. In my estimation, since the introduction of the term conflict transformation in the. Conflict transformation is more than a set of specific techniques. This research is a comparative study of professional practice related to two schools of thought in the field of nonviolent conflict intervention. Explain the importance of politics in the life of the individual and society. The data provide evidence however, that other practitioners use the terms conflict resolution and conflict transformation contextually for strategic, pragmatic, or philosophic reasons.
His dissertation, the functions of social conflict, took conflict theory in a new direction and was later named as one of the bestselling sociology books of the twenti. Using the narrative approach to assessing conflicts, this course offers various models of conflict transformation. A response to the articles by cordula reimann and hugh miall. As we have worked in the field of conflict transformation, we have found that the circle process is the most powerful process for providing a space where people, even in conflict, can have a good conversation to get to a good place together. Theory is the fourth cornerstone of the science business. Conflict analysis is the systematic study of the profile, causes, actors, and dynamics of conflict. Not satisfied with a quick solution that may seem to solve the immediate problem, transformation seeks to create a framework to address the content. With the aid of appropriate logical framework of techniques, that is, methodology, scientists use theories to link the philosophical foundations, comprising ontology and epistemology, to. Conflict resolution in a changing world international.
Important in understanding conflict resolution is addressing the ongoing debate in the field between the terms resolution and transformation. Many terms are frequently, and almost interchangeably, used in the field of conflict resolution to describe the activities and processes that bring conflict to an end. Transconflict principles of conflict transformation. In other terms, it attempts to make explicit and then reshape the social structures. The subsequent comparative analysis describes the similarities and differences in practice between each. Traditionally the emphasis has been on conflict resolution and conflict management methods, which focus on reducing or defusing outbreaks of hostility. Conflict transformation by peaceful means the transcend. Chapteri introduction conflict transformation theory. Nov 14, 2017 conflict theory states that society is in a continuous state of conflict over the competition for resources that are scarce. The transformation of the republican and democratic party. Two of the most wellknown researchers on conflict transformation, john paul lederach and thania paffenholz, have kindly contributed to this issue with their wealth of knowledge and experience. Conflict and critical theories 215 united states and arrived in new york in 1941. The easiest way to explain the concept of conflict of interest is by using some examples. In most cases neither party wants to be there in the first place and this time of heightened stress lends itself to conflict.
Conflict transformation is to envision and respond to the ebb and flow of social conflict as lifegiving opportunities for creating constructive change processes that reduce. Conflict transformation is a way of looking as well as seeing. Major changes according to marx are a result of new forces of production. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. Igbohausa feud that began after the military coup and countercoup of 1966, culminating in the civil war in 1967, efikibibio conflict, tivjukun debacle, fulanibirom clashes, and itsekiriurhoboijaw conflict in the niger delta.
It provides a space safe enough for the telling and hearing of stories, and opening up our own stories. Conflict transformation by peaceful means the transcend method 2 as violence may enter, basic concepts in violence theory like direct, structural and cultural violence are explored. Transformation by peaceful means the transcend method participantstrainers manual. Conflict resolution, conflict transformation, causes of conflict, and conditions for peaceful. The first thing that we need to do, is to get clear about the term, conflict transformation, and to understand its relationship to other terms that are probably more familiar to you. Constructive pacifism as a guiding notion for conflict transformation. One of the arguments of this thesis is that the syrian war did not remain as it was at its onset. Conflict is an essential and unavoidable human phenomenon because where there is human interaction. The reason why conflict management should be investigated further and developed for effective usage is because the people within the project are the ones that make it possible to reach the objectives. Principles of conflict transformation trans conflict has developed the following set of principles which we hope will contribute to the conceptual debate about conflict transformation, whilst also helping guide individuals and organizations alike so that they too can make a positive contribution to the field of conflict. Nocella ii abstract this article is dedicated to the historical overview, political development, and philosophy of transformative justice, with a primary focus on the united states. Each of the six sections of the wheel can be further analysed using tools presented below or references to other tip sheets. This is not only because zimbabwe is characterised by many conflicts, but much more so due to the realization that in most cases the conflicts have negative impacts the a nations socioeconomic and political development. Muste 1 the last decades of the twentieth century witnessed the emergence of a number of political and intellectual movements led.
At the very least, the foundations of a theory of conflict transformation have now been laid. Human beings engage in conflict, aggression, warfare, and violence seemingly equate with the human condition. The most prominent area of life that sees the five stages of conflict is the workplace. Consilience of knowledge for sustained positive peace. Together, these components attempt to capture the attitudes and orientations we bring to creative conflict transformation, the starting point of such an approach, and the various change processes involved in such an approach. Conflict transformation approaches differ from those of conflict management or conflict resolution. Cognitive conflict is the second form which arises through people having different views on things. In particular, conflict transformation theory attaches great importance to middle level leaders, as they may assume a catalytic role through their linkages both to the top and. To understand more about workplace conflict and resolutions you can take classes in workplace conflict resolution. It also states that conformity is upheld through domination and power rather than consensus. Pdf theories in peace and conflict research demola v.
At best, conflict disrupts the order and established functioning of the group or personal relationship. According to giorgio gallo and arturo marzano the clear separation is only useful in order to theoretically understand and explain a conflict. This is related to the conflict worker through conflict practice iv concepts like empathy, nonviolence and creativity. The transformation of the republican and democratic party coalitions in the u. Conflict transformation is a concept designed to reframe the way in which peacebuilding.
Conflict resolution and conflict transformation practice. Peacemaking circles oakland unified school district. The central thesis is that in order to prevent violence, and. To better understand conflict transformation, an explanation of each. With an overview of the literature on the term conflict transformation, as opposed to conflict resolution, the article considers the semantic nuances and operational differences between these two terms. Conflict resolution national oceanic and atmospheric. Concepts of conflict transformation berghof foundation. Conflict resolution and peace building the case of sierra leone unisa sahid kamara a dissertation presented to the faculty of arts in the university of malta for the. What is the stateoftheart in conflict transformation theory.
The third and last form is called value conflict and. Conflict resolution includes strategies that help in handling the. The first conflict form is called conflict of interest and concerns issues between people and their interests. In this article, lederach provides a definition for conflict transformation.