HOW TO HANDLE
CONFLICTS
One of the most common features of
a conflict is that the parties involved
in the conflict attempting to gain
one sided benefit from the conflict.
Therefore, each party in a conflict
expect to gain all the victories at the
end of the conflict. Also, each party
expects the counter party to end up
without any victory.
However, a conflict should not be approached with this
win-lose approach. The end result of this approach is
the losing party re-emerging later in a different
approach. win - win solution/approach
Ex: ▪ JVP attempting to gain the governmental
power in Sri Lanka in 1971 and losing the armed
revolution. However, JVP re-emerged in 1980’s.
Therefore, it is important to follow the win-win
approach instead of the win-lose approach to solve a
Rohana WIjeweera (the founder of JVP)
conflict in a lasting manner. to solve a conflict permanently
WHAT ARE THE
SIX APPROACHES
FOR CONFLICTS?
The book “Working with Conflict” written by Simon Fisher and his group
in the year 2000 provides six different approaches for conflicts.
there will be a short answer question
as a result of breakdown of community relations. ( reasons - miscommunication, doubts
1) Community relations approach etc.
2) Human needs approach when the human needs are not properly fulfilled. (social,
material, psychological needs)
3) Identity needs approach diverse identity and when their identity is threatened.
4) Cultural communication approach incompatibility of different cultures to communicate with each other
5) Conflict transformation approach transforming a conflicts nature (from destructive nature to constructive nature)
6) Problem solving approach due to incompatible goals among parties.
zero-sum attitude.
1. Community relations approach
According to this approach conflicts occur as a result of the breakdown of
community relations the main reason behind this breakdown is
miscommunication of information which results to doubts and distrust
among people. Sabeeha - muslim Ann - non muslim
Therefore, the aim of conflict resolution should be,
1. Promotion of communication and the mutual understanding between
the parties of the conflict.
2. Improving the capacities of communities to accept the diversity in
social and cultural areas.
3. Preventing misinformation and certain groups from purposely
communicating false information.
2. Human needs approach
According to this approach, conflicts occur when human necessities in material,
psychological, social, and cultural areas are not property fulfilled. Social needs
(such as reputation, respect etc.) material needs (such as food, shelter, clothes
etc.) cultural needs (such as religion, beliefs, customs etc.) and psychological
S/L LTTE (Tamil people's needs are not properly fulfilled)
needs (such as freedom, liberty etc.) all are equally important for a human.
When certain humans fall short of the above requirements, conflicts are most
likely to occur among people. According to this approach the conflict resolution
should,
1. Encourage parties to identify their unfulfilled necessities and to explore
alternative ways to achieve these goals.
2. Assisting parties of the conflicts to arrive at settlements that satisfy their
basic human needs.
3. Identity needs approach
Individuals and groups that live within a society have diverse identities. When
communities feel that their identity is threatened, conflicts may occur as a result.
According to this approach resolving a conflict should,
1. Assist parties to identify their mutual threats in order to build mutual
empathy and reconciliation.
2. Work towards collective agreements among parties that will fulfill their
basic identity needs.
4. Cultural communication approach
This approach provides that conflicts occur due to the incompatibility of different
cultures to communicate with each other. Since each culture has different customs,
beliefs, food patterns, values etc. certain cultures may accept features that are not
accepted in another culture. This could result in a communication gap between two
communities and which can develop into a destructive conflict.
Ex: In India, the Hindu community considering the cow a sacred animal and this
cultural element not being compatible with the Muslim community which has food
patterns with frequent beef consumption.
According to this approach conflict resolution should focus are:
1. Increasing the understanding among the parties of each other cultures.
2. Assisting parties to reject negative stereotypes of each other.
3. Strengthening inter culture communication.
5. Conflict transformation approach
The basic idea of this approach is that conflicts occur due to the inequalities
and injustices of social, political, and economic areas due to the intense
competition. Therefore, it suggests that conflict resolution should be done by
transforming the conflict through rapid changes of the social system. This
includes,
1. Changing the policy framework that created the conflict as the root cause
positive
2. Subjecting to constructive change the understanding of each other among
parties of the conflict
3. Empowering the communities and implementing policies to ensure peace,
justice, equality, and reconciliation
6. Problem solving approach
The basic idea of this approach is that conflicts occur due to incompatible goals
among parties. Also, parties have an attitude towards the conflict as the end of
the conflict shouldmindest
be awhere
victory for them and the opposition should
individuals believe that one person's gain/victory is another person's loss
be destroyed.
This is known as “zero-sum attitude.” In order to resolve the conflict, it is
necessary to,
1. Facilitate parties to come into agreements that are shared and mutual. These
solutions are not ‘unilateral’ or ‘zero-sum’
2. Parties should separate their personal factors from root causes and problems
involved in the conflict. This allows the conflict with the aim of solving the
relevant problem.
