A brief introduction to Conflict Transformation


Friction or opposition resulting from actual or perceived differences or incompatibilities.
The business dictionary - as well as any other online dictionary, defines conflict in rather general terms. And that, perhaps, isn't a negative approach. Conflict IS a more or less violent friction resulting from opposing perceptions; whether we see it as inner psychological conflict, or we sought to define a state-of-war scenario. Conflict, at its very essence, is incompatibility of thought, action, and lifestyles, which brought to an extreme can magnify the core issues to the extent of resulting in violent clashes between opposing sides. Despite this, its essence, at the human and social level, rarely changes.

Years of studies and semantics have tried to analyse conflict so in-depth to the point of forgetting where conflict comes from. It is essentially a perceived incompatibility. Incompatibility between diverse ethnicity, communities, cultures; incompatibility of interests between the sovereign state and its people; incompatibility of interest between neighbouring states. When this incompatibility is forgot, it quickly sprouts, leading to much heavier issues that get entangled with problems of race, class, religion, culture, economics, identity; and as such, leading communities to war.

The widely used term Conflict Resolution, to this extent, is useless. It refers to an external intervention that quiets down a particular conflict without taking the necessary measures to let incompatibilities surface and consequently eradicate the causes of conflict. Even if it wanted, an external intervention is perhaps the less likely tool at our hands capable of resolving those local incompatibilities that created conflict. The question is - what makes Transformation different from Resolution?

Transformation means analysing the current situation from a multitude of viewpoints to highlight the sources of incompatibility. The multidisciplinary approach aims to understand the bigger picture by taking into account its social, economic, political and humanitarian nature. The ultimate goal is to reduce violence, injustice and conflict via transforming their roots - in other words, addressing the evident issues by means of tackling their underlying patterns. Local expertise and the engagement of those involved in the conflict is a powerful tool to those who wish to transform conflict: in order to increase justice and obtain long-term results, the empowerment and active involvement of the individual, community or nation at state of conflict is a necessity.

The main difference lies on the focus of the two approaches, as well as in their usage of the available tools against conflict and violence. If resolution aims at concluding a particular outburst of violence by applying the international patterns of humanitarian intervention from a macro prospective, transformation uses these patterns as a guideline to tailor each intervention to the ability of local mediators. From active action to active support: empowering those at conflict to fight against the incompatibilities that brought about violence, war and injustice.

Such approach has been regarded as too value-laden, too idealistic, or too "new age." An Utopian vision that clashes against reality. Criticism is the lifeblood of academic research; nevertheless, whenever these lines are pronounced, it is very difficult to maintain academic rigour. Each and every human, social and political revolution sprouted from an Utopian ideal. That does not mean it's unachievable; especially if the effort, passion and steady dedication of individuals is devoted to achieve such goal. 

The transformation approach has been proved to be pretty successful amongst international non-profits, international organisations, and nation-state's aid programme as well. The trend, these past years, is to abandon traditional aid programs and get involved in the empowerment of local communities, allowing them to develop and aid themselves. The transformation happened in the western-led non-profit sector; however, it highly influences the conflict reality of many underdeveloped countries that find their inner strength to battle the undying causes of conflict: poverty, illiteracy, hunger, and inequality. 

Useful Links:

Transconflict

Berghof Foundation Handbook of Conflict Transformation

Beyond Intractability - Fundamentals of Conflict Transformation

Lederach's intro to Conflict Transformation

Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect

United Nations Charter

ICRC - International Treaties and Conventions

Queen's University Belfast - MA on Conflict Transformation and Social Justice

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