International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict
	Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA

The Consortium Theoretical Approach

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Constructive Confrontation Theoretical Framework

This paper gives explains the how intractable conflicts are different from simpler disputes, and what factors tend to contribute to a conflict's intractability.  It also explains how we approach the management of intractable conflicts and why this approach is likely to work better than alternative approaches which are designed to deal with more tractable disputes. The paper also explains why the rest of the system (the problem lists and solution lists) are organized as they are.

Important Theoretical Distinctions

We make a number of theoretical assumptions which guide our approach to intractable or resolution resistant conflicts. These include several key distinctions, which are discussed in the essays below.

• Short-Term and Long-Term Conflicts
• Tractable and Intractable (Resolution-Resistant) Conflicts
• Conflict Management, Settlement, and Resolution
• Core Conflict and Complicating Factors
• The Nature of Power
• Design-and-Control Systems and Complex, Natural Systems
• Conflict as a Primary Engine of  Social Learning
• Winning and Losing

Other Assumptions that Have Guided Our Approach to Program Development

Our approach to dealing with intractable conflicts differs from common practice in a number of other ways as well.  We advocate an incremental  approach which will be different for every conflict--rather than a standard approach which supposedly will work on all problems.  We also focus as much, if not more, on actions the disputants can take themselves without third party intervention or assistance.  At the same time, we recognize that third parties can facilitate this process, and we talk about ways third parties can encourage the disputants to engage in more constructive confrontation practices.  Finally, we are trying an experiment to disseminate this information electronically, instead of relying on more traditional print- or face-to-face based training. As the world wide web does become more world wide, it is our hope that we will be able to reach a much larger number of people this way.  For more information about some of these differences, see the essays below.

• The Incremental Approach
• Disputant Focus
• Third Party Roles
• Relationship between this Program and Other More Traditional Print-Based and Face-to-Face Training Programs

Background Paper on the History of Conflict Resolution Knowledge Development

The Development of Conflict Knowledge by Paul Wehr

This paper puts our work in context by showing how conflict resolution knowledge has grown and developed over the last 100 years.  This paper explains the concept of a "conflict knowledge base," and shows how the material we present here is drawn from a long history of knowledge development.

To Start Using the Program

• Start Using This Program for Online Consulting
• Start Using This Program for Online Training and Education

Copyright ©1998 Conflict Research Consortium  -- Contact: crc@colorado.edu