Conflict Resolution PDF Print E-mail
Community
Written by Acarya Vishvamitra   
A model of resolving the differences between two communities to make them function as one community is offeredby Dudley Weeks in his book The Eight Essential Steps to Conflict Resolution which viewsconflictsas opportunities to strengthen a relationship. This approach unlike most conflict resolution approaches does not focus on the differences at the expense of what groups have in common in terms of mutual interest and needs; focusing more on working in a partnership as aunified community.

Weeks “partnership“\ model views conflicts in the following manner:

1.    Rather than perceiving conflict as a disruption of order, a negative experience or a mistake in a relationship, conflictis perceived as an outgrowth of diversity that might hold possibilities for mutual growth and improvement in the relationship.

2.    As opposed to a battle between incompatible self-interest, it is perceived as “ part” of a relationship that involves individual and collective needs, values, perceptions, power, goals and feelings.

3.    Conflictsare occurrences that punctuate a long term relationship and can help clarify it rather than involving isolated events that we allow to define the entire relationship.

4.    Contrary to beingperceived a conflict between right and wrong, good andevil, a confrontation between differences in this model focuses on issues related to certain aspects of a relationship but not at the exclusion of other aspects still there to build on.

5.    This model focuses bothon developing conflict resolutions skills and relationship building skillsfor the present and the future.

6.    Asopposedto “ I-versus-you “ competitive battle resulting in domination by one party, conflict resolution involves a shared “ we “ set of responsibilities and opportunities to improve the relationship for mutual benefits.

7.    Focus on the present-futurefirst and then learn from thepastso as to avoid repeating unsuccessfulpatterns.The present-future focusempowers people to envision and implement a positive future.

Theeight essential steps to conflict resolution in Dudley Weeks’ model include:

1.Create an effective atmosphere which includes preparation, timing,locatiion and opening statements.

2.    Clarifying perceptions and communications in a manner that allowsfor the sharing of everyone’s sentiments ; revealing the true nature of the conflictand opening to working as partners in the context of the overall relationship.

3.    Focusing on individual and shared needs ; examining where needsconflict and are mutual inseeking to strengthenthe relationship.

4.    Build sharedpositive power, re-defining “power” as “consisting of the attitudes,perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors that give people and groups the ability to act or perform effectively together.

5.    Lookto the future, then learn from the past. Focusing onthepresent-future defines conflict resolution as a process, not an event.

6.    Generate options by making use of all the conflictpartnership skills acquired in the previous steps leading towards identifyingkey options that compatibly meet shared needs and are endorsed enthusiastically by allparties.

7.    Developing“ Doables “ : theStepping Stones to Action- specific acts that stand a good chance of success and contribute to building trust and mutual confidence in working together to achieve success around individual and shared needs.

8.    Make Mutual-Benefit Agreements that are capable of resolving specific conflicts within improved relationship patterns which take care of the self , the otherpartner and the relationship. Relationship buildingcontinues inthe presence or absence of conflict and serves to address new conflicts immediately.

This model of conflict resolution is very compatible of AnandaMarga philosophy which favours “coordinated cooperation “rather than “ subordinated cooperation “and viewsobstacles and diversity as helping forces in reaching our goal of unity. P. R. Sarkarthe founder and preceptor of Ananda Marga has said that “If the common sentiments of human beings are givenprominence and the points of unity are madethe basis of collective development,diversity will enrich humanity rather than tear it asunder.”Sarkar has further stated that“ Human beings have no control overthe past events . They can only build their future by making use of the present. God has put eyes in the front of the person’s head . Hencethe sages of the Upanisadssay, “ Caraeveti,caraeveti”, “ Proceed on,proceed on, “ makeproper utilization of the present and build yourfuture.“

Weeks does not ignore the past because as he points out many conflicts can’t be resolved untilpeople in conflict feel that the insults of the past are understood by allparties and serve as guidepostfor restitution and forgiveness in the presentto overcome obstacles in achieving unity. However,he states thatif we allow ourselvesto be defined bythe past, we deny our own power and the power of our relationshipto achieve mutualpositive development and change in the present-future.