Exercise: Exploring the Intractability Continuum

 
Purpose: To get a sense of what is meant by “intractability,” and which conflicts are, and which are not intractable.
 
Time Needed: Variable, 15 - 30 minutes
 
Materials Needed: Blackboard or white board & Chalk or Markers, or a wall and post-it notes
 
Procedure:
 
  • Draw a line across the board, or use post-it notes on a wall to show an imaginary line.
  • Mark the right end of the line “Intractable,” and the left side “tractable, and put a mrk in the middle. 
  • At the beginning of the exercise, the instructor or facilitator should explain that “intractable” does not mean impossible to solve, but it does mean “very difficult.” Since intractable conflicts are very difficult to solve, they tend to be long-lasting and damaging to the parties and often to others.  [Students might be asked to read the following essays before engaging in this exercise:]
        •    What Are Intractable Conflicts?
        •    Nature of Intractability
        •    Characteristics Of Intractable Conflicts 
  •  Ask students to name conflicts that they are concerned about or interested in, and then ask them where on the line their conflict would go and write it under the line in the appropriate place.  For instance,
    • Most students would put abortion or the Israeli/Palestinian conflict far toward the right (intractable) side.
    • They usually put gay marriage (or gay rights more generally) considerably to the left–even all the way to the left since it seems to be decided.  (If they do put it all the way to the left, I ask them if everyone agrees with that decision.  If the answer is no, then I suggest they move somewhat to the right.)
  • I continue around the room until everyone gets to put something on the continuum.  I ask people why they put things where they do, and encourage discussion about each placement.  
  • Options: If you have a large class, people can do this in groups, although then the instructor doesn’t get a chance to ask as many probing questions. Or you can just stop when the continuum gets crowded and not include one conflict from each person.
  • This exercise, then, leads directly into the next one, the “Causes of Intractability Exercise.”