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Constructive Conflict Guide >
The Complex Factors That Make Intractable Conflict So Difficult >
The Additional (and Even Bigger) Challenge of Societal Complexity
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Power
If power were one-dimensional, we could agree who has more and who has less. However, we are often surprised when a seemingly less powerful party holds a more powerful party at bay. This essay discusses both potential and actual power, the forms power can take, and its role in causing and solving intractable conflicts.
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Power Strategy Mix
Power takes three different forms: coercion, exchange, and integration.
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The Power Strategy Mix --- Empowering the Pursuit of the Common Good
Power is not just force. It is the ability to get things done. And that usually is maximized by using integrative as well as exchange power to encourage collaboration whenever possible. Force should be reserved for the most extreme cases only.
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Pro-Democracy Efforts: the Tension between Power-Over or Power-With Approaches
Pro-democracy efforts have little consensus on what democracy is, or how it should be "saved." Our failure to reconcile these competing views is a big part of the reason why democracy is in so much trouble.
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Reprise: Planning a Constructive Confrontation Strategy: Understanding the Relationship between Negotiation and Power
Power takes three forms that can be mixed and matched: coercion, exchange, and integration. The "recipe" for the optimal "power strategy mix" changes depending on whom you are trying to influence.
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Does the Power-With Approach Include Justice? Comments on Our Power-Over/Power-With Essay
Power-with and power-over whom, how, and for what purpose are all important factors to consider when making strategic choices.
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Balancing the Three Sources of Power -- Integrative, Exchange, and Force
Power is usually thought to be force--coercive power. But there are actually three kinds of power that can be mixed and matched -- force, exchange, and integrative power. Kenneth Boulding argued that integrative power is actually the strongest and most important of the three, because the other two need integrative power to function.
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Navigating the Power Contest Hierarchy
This article explains how the various dispute resolution arenas (e,g, administrative appeals, legislative action, electoral politics, public opinion, judicial review, policing, and military action) relate to one another in a rough hierarchy.
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Inequitable Power-Sharing
The more unequally power is distributed, the more conflict tends to ensue, unless the power of the tyrannical ruler is so complete that his subjects dare not fight back. Even then, however, the powerful can only rule as long as his supporters (particularly his army) stands with him. If they rebel, regime change is likely, even for the apparently most powerful leaders.
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Power Grabbers
Unfortunately, there are people whose principal goal in life is to seek power -- power that enables them to exploit and dictate the beliefs and behaviors of others.
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Empowerment Leaders
Empowerment Leaders highlight and work to correct the society's most egregious power inequities and the unfairness that results from those inequities. Their focus is not on "getting even," but rather, they try to build a system that more equitably balances power in ways that all citizens will see as offering a path to a society that is fair for everyone.
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The Importance of the Rule of Law, Checks and Balances
Rule of law and checks and balances are key elements of liberal democracy. Rule of law means that laws apply to everyone and procedures and policies should follow those laws. Checks and balances mean that the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) are independent of each other and provide checks on the over reach of the others.