Options and Strategies

Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict

Options and Strategies

	Countering Intractability Even when a conflict is moving quickly down the road of intractability, its escalation may still be interrupted. This essay discusses some of the ways adversaries and intermediaries may halt and even turn back a conflict's course towards intractability.
	Theories of Change Theories of change are theories that explain how particular interventions (such as dialogues or problem-solving workshops) influence people and change their behavior enough to change the character of the entire conflict in which they are involved. All interventions should have a theory of change, and should assess its validity by outcome evaluations as much as possible.
	Peaceful Change Strategies Many distinguish between the "soft path" of negotiation and the "hard path" of force. This essay argues that this is a false dichotomy and that both strategies should be combined in order to transform conflict.
	Intervention Processes Most intractable conflicts require outside intervention in order to be constructively transformed or resolved. This essay introduces the many forms of intervention and discusses their strengths and weaknesses.
	Addressing Underlying Causes of Conflict Ultimately any negotiation must address the underlying causes of the conflict, things like unmet human needs, injustice and moral differences. This essay discusses ways in which these "non-negotiable" items can be dealt with.
	Managing Interpersonal Trust and Distrust Trust has often been praised as the "glue" that holds relationships together and enables individuals to pool their resources with others. Unfortunately, when conflict escalates to a dysfunctional level, trust is often one of the first casualties.
	Intervention Coordination In most serious conflict, situations there are likely to be a number of independent intervention efforts. This essay explores the importance of coordination and the problems that commonly arise because of a lack of coordination between these initiatives.
	Meta-Conflict Resolution Many conflict resolvers emphasize mediation, dialogue, or problem solving workshops as solutions to conflict. But intractable conflicts usually need a much more comprehensive approach. This article describes such an approach and articulates the various roles that must be carried out to successfully transform these conflicts.
	The Scale-Up Problem Much conflict resolution takes place around the table or in small-group processes. Yet, intractable conflicts often involve whole communities or even societies. So methods must be found to widen or "scale-up" the small group processes to the larger society.
	Incrementalism It is often impossible to replace destructive conflict processes with completely new, alternative systems. This essay examines how, over time, incremental improvements can result in significant positive change.

Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind. -- John F. Kennedy

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Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict

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Beyond Intractability

Reporting on Conflict
A guide for reporters showing how they can get the most out of Beyond Intractability. Includes a list of experts available for interviews.

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Amnesty International
Winner of the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize.

Beyond Intractability Version IV
Copyright © 2003-2007 The Beyond Intractability Project
Beyond Intractability is a Registered Trademark of the University of Colorado
Project Acknowledgements

The Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base Project
Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess, Co-Directors and Editors
c/o Conflict Information Consortium (Formerly Conflict Research Consortium), University of Colorado
Campus Box 580, Boulder, CO 80309
Phone: (303) 492-1635; Fax: (303) 492-2154; Contact