Peacebuilding

World Café: Conflict Resolution at the Crossroads

It’s time to face some brutal facts: in the days and months after 9-11, where were the conflict resolution leaders? They, we, our profession, are not seen as major players in how to respond ot or understand conflict. We are not seen as resources anywhere in almost any communities.

What are the deepest conflicts, and why are we not playing a major role? This is not about a marketing shortfall; rather, we don’t have product that meets the needs.

People in conflict don't turn to us. As a profession, we depend on mandatory referrals or foundations for work. People don't think about neutral 3rd parties when they think of conflict. They want allies, friends, advocates. We've been dependent on forcing people to use us.

We’re a supply-driven field. Practitioners have to find the work. We’ve lost the major grant sources of the Pew Charitable Trust and the Hewlett Foundation, which have funded so many conflict resolution activities for so many years. Why? For one things, there is little firm research that documents the benefits of our work.

We offer our services as neutral 3rd parties. What people want is -- what? A voice, validation, vindication, procedural justice, safety.

Therein lie the opportunities. We need to look at 3 things:

1. Question the concepts – for example:
- that conflict resolution is about moving people from differences in positions and interests. Conflict resolution is not always about collaboration and cooperation. There is a time for struggle.
- that we have any potential to bring about a level playing field. We don’t. There is no such thing.
- that we’re always looking for win-win. We’re not.
- People don't always want a resolution, or think their conflicts need resolving. We have something to offer at all stages. Sometimes we need to deepen or manage conflict. We must think of ourselves as there to help as constructive productive powerful conflict engagement specialists.

2. Think about roles. We have traditionally viewed ourselves as 3rd parties. But there’s not an advocate role for all situations. There are also ally roles. There's a change in collaborative and coaching practitioners. We have to be willing to work with one side on their goals.

3. We need to produce systems to permit engagement in healthy ways.