BI ArticleIdentify the Overlay Issues in Dispute
Factual and procedural disputes, framing, miscommunication, and escalation are "overlay problems" that make intractable conflicts even harder to resolve.
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Constructive Conflict Guide >
Civic Knowledge and Skills That We All Need to Constructively Handle Intractable Conflict
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BI Article
Identify the Overlay Issues in Dispute
Factual and procedural disputes, framing, miscommunication, and escalation are "overlay problems" that make intractable conflicts even harder to resolve.
BI Article
Confront Constructively
How to peel away the overlays so you can address the core conflict with an optimal power strategy mix.
BI Article
Core And Overlaying Issues
Conflicts are never simple us-versus-them. By sorting out the core and overlaying factors, disputants can come to a much clearer understanding of what needs to be done to transform their conflicts.
BI Audio/Video
Lorelei Kelly Talks with Heidi Burgess about the Modernization and Depolarization of Congress -- And the U.S. More Broadly
Lorelei Kelly has been working to help Congress do its job better for over 20 years, most recently as part of the "Fix Congress Cohort." Learn what they are doing to fix democracy at the top and the local level.
BI Article
Fundamentals Seminar 5: Conflict Overlay Factors
BI Article
How to Stop Fighting: Home
A Seven-Step Interactive Tutorial for People Involved in Relationship Conflicts
Related Folders
Overcoming Hyper-Polarization, Escalation, and the Forces of Disintegration
Polarization and escalation tend to make conflicts increasingly intense. But there are a variety of conflict resolution strategies that can help de-polarize and de-escalate conflicts so that they at least do less damage, and at best, might be resolved.
Subsidiary Folders
Constructive Framing & Future Visioning
If you frame conflicts as shared problems that need to be solved collaboratively, and work together to develop a vision for the future that will be acceptable to all, you are much more likely to be able to deal with conflict in a constructive way.
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Overcoming Communication Problems
Communication problems are a common overlay factor. Fortunately, there are many ways to remedy these problems as well.
Subsidiary Folders
Resolve Fact-Based Sources of Conflict
If conflict is fueled by suspicion, assumptions and misunderstandings, then one of the simplest ways to reduce it is to find out the facts of the situation. Every conflict resolution process needs a solid base of facts to stand on. However, agreeing on "the facts," can be, in itself, a challenging conflict resolution problem.
Subsidiary Folders
Overcoming Hyper-Polarization, Escalation, and the Forces of Disintegration
Polarization and escalation tend to make conflicts increasingly intense. But there are a variety of conflict resolution strategies that can help de-polarize and de-escalate conflicts so that they at least do less damage, and at best, might be resolved.
Subsidiary Folders
Collaborative Problem Solving/Consensus Building
Collaborative Problem Solving (also called consensus building) is used to settle conflicts that involve many parties and complicated issues. The approach seeks to transform adversarial confrontations into a cooperative search for information and solutions that meet all parties' interests and needs.