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Conflict and Conflict Resolution Techniques

peace and conf reso ug pol sc

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18 views5 pages

Conflict and Conflict Resolution Techniques

peace and conf reso ug pol sc

Uploaded by

Monarch Bishnoi
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CONFLICT AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION:

“Conflict is one which arises when there are controversial and mutually
exclusive goals or values pursued by different closely placed parties” – JESSIE
BERNARD

Conflict is endemic to all social life. It is an inevitable part of living because it is


related to situations of scarce resources, division of functions, power relations,
etc. The word conflict has been derived from the Latin word ‘confligere’, which
means literally “to strike together”. Conflict is a term used to mean a variety of
things, in an assortment of contexts. Under the mantle of conflict are words
such as fight, argue, contest, debate, war and other equally evocative terms.

MEANING AND TYPES OF CONFLICT:


Conflict refers to more than just overt behaviour. As per the traditional
definition of conflict, it is the result of opposing interests involving scarce
resources, goal divergence and frustration. Conflict is not defined simply in
terms of violence (behaviour) or hostility (attitudes), but also includes
incompatibility or differences in issue position.

Conflict will always be found in society; as the basis of conflict may vary to be
personal, racial, class, caste, political and international. Michael Nicholson, who
defines it as an activity which takes place when conscious beings wish to carry
out mutually inconsistent acts concerning their wants, needs or obligations.

The conflicts are of different types, considering the situation and interests.
Interpersonal conflict, INTRAGROUP, INTERGROUP, VALUE CONFLICT, when
there is difference of values; POWER CONFLICT, triggered by the desire to
possess more and more power, TERRITORIAL CONFLICT, between nations to
acquire more area or protect from enemies.

Apart from these, there are relationship conflict, feudal, organizational, ethnic,
cognitive (judgement), social, etc.
There are various sources that lead to conflict. Mutual differences can arise
upon factors like scarce resources, religion, ideology, miscommunication,
distribution of power, etc. These conflicts can take extreme forms like war, and
hence it is mandatory to resolve them.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION: MEANING AND RELEVANCE-:


"The development and implementation of peaceful strategies for settling
conflicts- using alternatives to violent forms of language are known by the
general term conflict resolution". (Goldstein)

Conflict resolution is the act of settling and ending conflicts by addressing the
issues that trigger them and in ways that are not only considered as mutually
acceptable to the conflicting parties but also help establish such universal values
as rights, justice, democracy etc.

Conflict resolution is important as it seeks to get at the root of the problem, it


aims not to merely resolve the conflict but also to provide insights into the
generic nature of the problem.

METHODS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION:


Conflicts are sought to be resolved at multiple levels depending on where they
occur – starting from the UN being the highest body to the nuclear family being
the most primary. Whenever there is conflict of interests between states, war is
only one of the possible modes of policy to resolve the conflict. War remains as
only one of the conflict resolution procedures. Other conflict resolution
procedures involve negotiation, conciliation, mediation, arbitration and
adjudication. However, the fact that conflict exists in the international system
makes it necessary that states develop mechanisms for adjustment and
settlement of disputes among them.

Diplomatic methods:
Negotiation:
Negotiations between nations in conflict can be either bilateral or multilateral.
These can be conducted directly between Heads of State or Ambassadors or
special representatives of the countries involved. Negotiations can be held
between conflicting parties through an international conference also.
Negotiation usually proceeds in conjunction with good offices or mediation. It
involves consultation and communication. The Australia- New Zealand Free
Trade Agreement of 1965 had provisions for consultation. The 1963 US-Soviet
Hot Line Agreement implied negotiations and consultations.

Good Offices and Mediation:


Good offices and mediation involve a friendly third state which assists in
bringing about an amicable solution to a dispute. The party offering good offices
or mediation may be an individual or an international organization or a state.
The distinction between, good offices and mediation is mostly one of degree. In
good offices, a third party offers its services to bring the disputing parties
together and to suggest a settlement without actually participating in the
negotiations. Mediation on the other hand involves the mediating party
participating in negotiations and helping reach a peaceful solution.

Conciliation:
Conciliation includes inquiry and mediation. An individual or a Commission
works to bring about conciliation between disputing parties. The UN has
resorted to this method to solve several disputes since 1945. Conciliation
includes a variety of methods by which a dispute is resolved. It usually involves
proposals of resolution after investigation of facts and an effort to reconcile
opposing viewpoints.

Arbitration:
Arbitration involves the reference of a dispute to certain persons called
arbitrators freely chosen by the parties, who make an award without being
bound by any strict legal considerations. However, many disputes involving
purely legal issues have been referred to arbitrators for settlement. Several
treaties between states have included provisions for arbitration of disputes
between them, eg. Jay treaty of 1794 between US and Great Britain.

Judicial methods:
There are basically two judicial procedure for conflict resolution: arbitration and
adjudication. Solutions to a dispute are arrived at on the basis of principles of
international law or the law of the land (in case of local conflicts). The
arbitration award and judicial decision are binding on the conflicting parties.

Other methods:
In addition to above methods there are several methods short of war that states
resort to resolve conflict particularly in international system. These methods
involve among others, recall of diplomats, special de marches; suspension of
treaties and agreements, blockade, embargo, gunboat diplomacy or sabre
rattling. The threat of use of force at times can resolve even serious and
potentially dangerous conflicts. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 is a case in
point. Sometimes international groupings can help mitigate tendencies towards
conflicts, eg. the NAM.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY:


Apart from states, three main types of agents now play an enhanced role in the
resolution of Contemporary conflicts: the UN, regional organisations and NGOs.
The UN and its agencies remain central to the international community’s
response to conflict. For example, the cold war and post-cold war efforts of
peace. The regional organisations resolve disputes given there familiaritywith
main actors and conditions. Eg ASEAN. The gaps in the coverage of internal
conflicts have left a space for humanitarian agencies and non-governmental
agencies to play a larger role. Eg. red cross.

CONCLUSION:
Hence for the above given reasons we saw how conflict, in any sphere takes
place and why there is a need for conflict resolution and strengthening of
conflict resolution methods.

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