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Constructive Confrontation Theoretical Framework
This paper gives explains the how intractable conflicts are different from simpler disputes, and what factors tend to contribute to a conflict's intractability. It also explains how we approach the management of intractable conflicts and why this approach is likely to work better than alternative approaches which are designed to deal with more tractable disputes. The paper also explains why the rest of the system (the problem lists and solution lists) are organized as they are.
Important Theoretical Distinctions
We make a number of theoretical assumptions which guide our approach to intractable or resolution resistant conflicts. These include several key distinctions, which are discussed in the essays below.
Short-Term and Long-Term Conflicts
Tractable and Intractable (Resolution-Resistant) Conflicts
Conflict Management, Settlement, and Resolution
Core Conflict and Complicating Factors
The Nature of Power
Design-and-Control Systems and Complex, Natural Systems
Conflict as a Primary Engine of Social Learning
Winning and Losing
Other Assumptions that Have Guided Our Approach to Program Development
Our approach to dealing with intractable conflicts differs from common practice in a number of other ways as well. We advocate an incremental approach which will be different for every conflict--rather than a standard approach which supposedly will work on all problems. We also focus as much, if not more, on actions the disputants can take themselves without third party intervention or assistance. At the same time, we recognize that third parties can facilitate this process, and we talk about ways third parties can encourage the disputants to engage in more constructive confrontation practices. Finally, we are trying an experiment to disseminate this information electronically, instead of relying on more traditional print- or face-to-face based training. As the world wide web does become more world wide, it is our hope that we will be able to reach a much larger number of people this way. For more information about some of these differences, see the essays below.