Escalation/De-Escalation

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

Escalation/De-Escalation

	Escalation and Related Processes This introductory essay explains the various types of escalation and related processes with details following in individual essays.
	Destructive Escalation Escalation is an increase in the intensity of a conflict. The number of parties and issues tends to increase, tactics become heavier, malevolence increases, and overall destructiveness generally increases as well.
	Constructive Escalation Despite the dangers of escalation, disputants often intentionally escalate conflicts. Parties generally do this when they feel their needs are being ignored. This essay examines the risks and benefits of tactical escalation and offers suggestions on how the risks can be minimized.
	Polarization Polarization of a conflict occurs as a conflict rises in intensity (that is, escalates). Often as escalation occurs, more and more people get involved, and take strong positions either on one side or the other. "Polarization" refers to the process in which people move toward extreme positions ("poles"), leaving fewer and fewer people "in the middle."
	Entrapment In intense, intractable conflicts, leaders commonly ask their supporters to make great sacrifices. In the most extreme cases, supporters are asked to sacrifice their lives. Once these sacrifices have been made, it becomes very difficult for leaders to publicly admit that it was all for nothing.
	Limiting Escalation / De-escalation De-escalation tends to proceed slowly and requires a lot of effort. This essay describes some key strategies available for slowing escalation and then de-escalating a conflict.

I hope...that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats; for in my opinion there never was a good war, or a bad peace. -- Benjamin Franklin

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

International Studies Association

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

League of Red Cross Societies
1963 Nobel Peace Laureate; now known as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Beyond Intractability Version IV
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The Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base Project
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