Intractable Conflicts Defined

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

Intractable Conflicts Defined

	What are Intractable Conflicts? Intractability refers to conflicts that seem to be stuck in an increasingly destructive spiral. Examples range from the Iraq War to a difficult divorce. These conflicts consume time, money and energy and at their worst, result in millions of deaths.
	Nature of Intractability It can be difficult to decide whether a conflict is, in fact, intractable. This essay explains why the term, "intractable," is so controversial.
	Characteristics of Intractable Conflicts Intractable conflicts are ones that go on and on, are frequently very destructive, and seem to resist any attempts at resolution. Though international conflicts, such as Israel-Palestine quickly come to mind, domestic issues such as the abortion controversy, and even some marital relations are quite intractable as well.
	Conflicts and Disputes Conflict scholars make a critical distinction between short-term disputes and deep-rooted, long-term conflicts. Learn why conflicts are so much harder to resolve than disputes.

Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them more. -- Oscar Wilde

Featured Links
Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict

American Political Science Association: Conflict Processes Section

Other Resources from
Beyond Intractability

A User's Guide for Third Siders
The Third Side concept was developed by William Ury. Third Siders are people who try to see both sides of a conflict and encourage cooperative solutions, fair fights, and decision making that advocates solutions which meet everyone's interests and needs as much as possible.

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Kim Dae-jung
Former President of South Korea, and 2000 Nobel Peace Laureate

Beyond Intractability Version IV
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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
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