What is the basic social setting in which the conflict is occurring (geography, religion, history, culture, demographics, and economy)?

Who are the contending parties, their formal representatives and spokespersons, and coalition partners?

What is the nature of the long-term, underlying conflicts which divide the parties?

What is the focus of the immediate dispute (e.g. a strike, election, public protest)?

Who are the contending parties and what is their image of the situation? How do the various parties' images of the situation vary?

What is the recent history of the conflict? Have similar problems occurred in the past? How were they handled? What happened? Are the same people or groups involved this time?

To what degree has the conflict escalated? Has violence occurred? If so, how much, and of what kind?

What future events are anticipated? Does the conflict seem to be intensifying or diminishing in intensity?

What is the geographic "lay of the land?" Where can I find good maps of the area's transportation system, economic infrastructure, and natural environment?

What conflict-handling and violence-limiting institutions are present (e.g. legal and political systems, the police, the military, the church)? What have they done (or are they doing) to address the situation?

What other conflict management efforts are ongoing or planned? Who is involved? How can the people involved be contacted?

How have similar problems in other areas been handled? What worked? What didn't? What lessons can be applied to this situation? Are there people or organizations involved in similar efforts elsewhere that could make a contribution here?

What general information on strategies for dealing with such conflicts are available?

Where can I get information about travel arrangements? Fund-raising options? Translation services? Local communications services (including Internet access)?