Conflict Handling Techniques

Felix Chidozie, PhD

Department of Political Science and International Relations

When

When the baboons and monkeys heard that the man

who used to chase them away from the maize field had
died, they hysterically celebrated…The following year
there was no maize…that’s when they painfully realized
the dead man was the farmer!
Not all enemies are enemies…..
Introduction
The knowledge of peace and conflict is
the prime value in contemporary Africa
today;
Peace is therefore the most valuable
“public good’’ in families, communities
and nations of Africa, yet the most
elusive.
Major Issues in Conflict Analysis
Conflict emanates from social relationships;
Conflict is inevitable in any social relationship: what is
not inevitable is violent conflict;
Peace is not the absence of conflict neither is conflict
the absence of peace;
Conflict and peace can never be discussed in absolute
terms, but in relative terms;
A conflict can either be productive or destructive;
Conflicting groups must reside in close proximity,
whether physically or psychologically;
Conflict Handling Styles/Strategies for
Managing Conflict
(1) Avoidance {Tortoise}: this strategy is
characterised by denial of the conflict, equivocation,
changing and avoiding topics, being non-committal,
and joking rather than dealing with the conflict at
hand (Wilmot and Hocker, 1998:11).
It is popularly known as ‘let the sleeping dog lie’; and
called tortoise approach because it is the most
frustrating and the worst conflict handling technique.
It leads to lose-lose outcomes.
(2) Confrontation
One of the parties takes a unilateral action towards
dealing with the problem forcefully.
The aim here is for the stronger party in the conflict to
impose its will on the other.
This could be in terms of using military instrument,
intimidation, and blackmail.
In some cases, parties to the conflict demonise each
other.
It leads to win-lose outcome/lose-lose outcome.
(3) Compromise
One party is willing to make
concessions so that peace may reign.
When you keep compromising, there
is a tendency for you to keep losing;
thereby giving room for an emergence
of a synthetic or artificial relationship.
It leads to lose-win situations.
(4) Role Playing/Script Playing
One of the parties to a conflict sticks to his duty
or brief and refuses to bend let alone breaking.
This party is so focused and so rigid that he
refuses to consider dissentions, contingencies, or
excuses.
The role player is too traditional or conventional
and refuses any changes.
The role player generates more conflict and
creates a zero-sum situation.
(5) Band-Aid/Bandaging
This is the process of creating a temporary
relief- scratching on the surface of the real
issues.
It amounts to patching-up issues and
postponing the evil days.
This process is superficial and has a tendency
to degenerate into worst forms of conflict.
It creates lose-lose outcomes.
(7) Joint Problem Solving Approach
This requires the parties to the conflict acting
together {by negotiating with each other}, or being
helped by a third party {using mediation} to
resolve the conflict on mutually agreeable terms.
This kind of approach is easier facilitated in
situations where the negative effect of further
hostility is clear to all parties in the conflict.
This approach leads to win-win outcomes and is
considered to be the best for handling conflicts
Dimensions of Violence
 Physical violence is a clear demonstration of
violence seen with the eyes such as maiming,
killings, etc;
Psychological violence is subjecting one to mental
circumstances that make him experience pains- it
is behavioural and cannot be seen with the eyes;
Structural violence is the building of barricades
into societies that can hinder development of
individuals and groups.
Conclusion: The Beauty of Conflict
‘’....conflict is an essential creative element in
human relationships. It is the means to
change, the means by which our social values
of welfare, security, justice, and opportunities
for personal development can be achieved....
The existence of a flow of conflict is the only
guarantee that the aspirations of society will
be attained. Indeed, conflict, is to be enjoyed’’
(Burton, 1972: 137-138).