Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict
Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict
Reconstruction Checklist for Adversaries
Beyond Intractability checklists offer users involved in various conflict situations lists of things to think about, along with links to sections of Beyond Intractability that relate to each item. People involved in peacebuilding or post-conflict reconstruction efforts (as a disputant) might want to consider the following questions.
Identify Stakeholders / Interest Groups Have you identified the
many other interest or stakeholder groups (as well as individuals) who are
involved or are possibly affected by or involved in your efforts?
Determine the Conflict Stage Is the conflict latent, developing,
or fully escalated? Has it become intractable? Is the conflict ripe for
resolution, or do you feel it is in your best interest to continue with the
status quo?
Misunderstandings Do you know how much of the conflict might be
attributable to misunderstandings? If not, do you know how to setup
communication processes that might be able to answer this question? And, do
you know how to setup communication processes that might limit these
misunderstandings?
Culture and Conflict Are cultural misunderstandings contributing
to the conflict? Are there differences between you and the other parties such
as nationality, language, gender or age? Do you know some strategies for
overcoming cultural differences?
Emotional and Psychological Dimensions Do you know the extent to which
your responses are due to emotional and psychological dimensions such as
anger, fear or prejudice? Do you know what is causing these reactions and how
to address them?
Fact-Finding Do you know how much of the conflict is
attributable to disagreements regarding the basic facts? If not, do you know
how to set up communication processes that might be able to answer this
question? And, do you know how to set up joint fact-finding processes that
might limit factual disagreements?
Escalation Do you know how much of the conflict is attributable
to escalation and polarization? Have you developed and implemented effective
steps to limit or reverse this effect?
Levels of Action Have you thought about what level of
society you belong to? Are you part of the grassroots or the elite? Have you
thought about ways you can work effectively with other levels of
society?
Recognize how you fit into the "bigger
picture." Do you understand how your efforts relate to other peacebuilding efforts and processes--such as peacekeeping, peace making, violence prevention, nation-building, and democratization?
Anticipate Stakeholder Reactions Have you determined how other groups are likely to react to your
peacemaking efforts? Who will be your allies and supporters? Who will
be your opponents? Here it is important to recognize within-group differences
as well as between-group differences.
Coalition Building / Conflict Minimization For each of the
various stakeholder groups likely to be involved in the conflict, have you
considered ways of minimizing their opposition to your efforts while
simultaneously strengthening your network of allies and supporters?
Persuasion Do you have a strategy for explaining your goals and
actions to other stakeholders? For persuading others that your goals are
reasonable and equitable?
Power / BATNAs Are you clear about the nature of power and how
it affects your "alternatives to a negotiated agreement?" Are you clear about
the powers available to other stakeholders? Have you been able to demonstrate
to people the powers that you are willing to use to defend your interests?
(Here you should consider legal, political, and economic power as well as the
ability to resist violent assaults.)
Violence If the conflict becomes violent, do you have a strategy
for de-escalating the violence? If the violence is on a small scale such as
gang violence in a school, is it possible for you to prevent the violence? If
the violence is on a national or international scale, is there anything you
can do to decrease the suffering caused by the violence even before it can be
stopped completely?
Dispute Systems Design Do you expect a continuing series of
similar disputes? Do you know about options for developing a system for the
handling of routine disputes?
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of
trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition
inspired and success achieved.
-- Helen Keller
Featured Links Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict CPR Network
Other Resources from Beyond Intractability The Dynamics of Nonviolent Action The Dynamics of Nonviolent Action will be of interest to those who seek a better understanding of the mechanism and operation of nonviolent resistance.
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Norman E. Borlaug Geneticist and plant pathologist with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico City, and 1970 Nobel Peace Laureate
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
Peacebuilding and Post-Conflict
Reconstruction Checklist for Adversaries
