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


Introduction: People on opposite sides of a contentious issue working together for long periods of time are likely to change their mode of interaction. Frank Dukes, director of the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia, recounts a case in which a group of people trying to build consensus about a highway expansion eventually began to work as a team.


This rough transcript provides a text alternative to audio. We apologize for occasional errors and unintelligible sections (which are marked with ???).

Transformation
Frank Dukes
Director, Institute for Environmental Negotiation, University of Virginia
Interviewed by
Julian Portilla
2003

Another example might be looking at another one our rather longer processes that was a two year consensus building process involving a citizen advisory group that was set up because they were fighting the department of transportation, who apparently had plans to create an expansion to a highway that would take some portion of a park. There were three interstate highways that were coming together at this one point that was about a mile or so in area and quite congested, and a park that was right there. After 22 meetings, during the last meeting, there had been a person who hadn't been participating regularly, but was in the group that came and said he voted to block consensus. Everyone else had supported it. To see the strength and power of the process from the people who had been meeting all this time who were saying that we are going to meet consensus, we are going to satisfy this persons needs and we're going to address our needs. We aren't going to waste our time here. By virtue of the fact that they had worked together so well, and learned from each other, and cared for each other, these people were able to make that commitment, and instead of just attacking the individual, or the people who supported him. They said, "I'm going to join this person." They addressed his concerns, and asked, "What is it that you need?" What would be effective for you? It was very powerful, more than if we had done it as facilitators. They were able to address his concern and to reach full consensus of the group, which was a very powerful moment after 22 months of going to once a month meetings, and some public meetings added on to that too.

 
How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it. -- Marcus Aurelius

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


Other Resources from
Beyond Intractability
Stable Peace
Stable Peace

Kenneth Boulding's classic vision of what stable peace might look like.

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Amnesty International
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
University of Colorado at Boulder