Dealing with Conflict in a Community Setting

Prepared by David Duff and Christina PrettyNovember 2011

Outline

•What is Conflict?•Conflict in a Community Setting•Resolving Community Conflict•Conflict Resolution Organizations

What is Conflict?

•Conflict is any struggle between opposing forces

•May result from differences in needs, ideas, beliefs, values, or feelings between the two parties

•Can easily escalate•Creates tension•Can be positive or negative

Positive and Negative ConflictPositive Conflict Negative Conflict

• Can be channelled into finding positive solutions that meet people’s needs

• Creative▫ Motivates teams to look

at a problem that may have been otherwise overlooked

• New ideas for old problems• Increased interest and

renewed energy to fix a particular problem

• Does not contribute to building cohesion and trust

• Does not move towards finding consensus solutions

• Reduces efficiency• Leads to negative feelings

between parties• Causes disruptions• Diverts team energy to a

destructive path

Distinguishing Positive from Negative Conflict

• If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you have Negative Conflict

• If you answered NO to all of the above questions, you are likely to have Positive Conflict

Source: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/884762.pdf

Conflict in a Community Setting•Communities are often faced with

conflicts•Conflicts may result from

▫sharing of water resources, waste disposal, zoning rights, etc.

▫proposed changes tohistorical, cultural, or economic aspects of the community

Image source: http://north-west-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/mitchelton-residents-protest-neighbourhood-plan/

Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.

- Max Lucado

Source: http://resolveyourdispute.co.uk/conflict-is-inevitable-but-combat-is-optional/

Managing Community Conflict

•Acknowledge that the conflict does exist•Use effective communication between the

affected parties•Negotiation•Predict future conflicts

Acknowledge that the Conflict Does Exist•Often, parties are in denial that a problem

exists•Leaving the issue unacknowledged may

cause the problem to grow with devastating consequences

•The earlier the conflict is acknowledged, the earlier steps can be taken to resolve it

Effective Communication

•Maintain contact with the persons involved throughout the entire process of resolving the conflict▫Gives the

individuals and groups a sense of importance within the issue

Image sources: http://www.catalystpaper.com/media/gallery/corporate-images/powell-river-community-meeting &http://www.hnhblhin.on.ca/Newsletter.aspx?id=92

Effective Communication

•Provide accurate information to the community▫Through school administrators, church

leaders, popular clubs within the community, etc.

•Do not place all of the blame on the other party

•Be polite•Actively listen to concerns and feedback

Activity – Are you really listening?•The person at one end of the

table says a word. The person sitting next to them must then say a different word that begins with the previous word’s last letter. It continues around the table.

•Example: bat – that – tin – nail

Image source: http://activerain.com/blogsview/891628/ahhhhh-to-get-a-word-in-edgewise-how-not-listening-is-a-deterrent-in-real-estate-and-life-

Negotiation

•Hold public meetings to specifically discuss problem issues▫Where individuals and groups can voice

their opinions and concerns•Seek help from local organizations

specializing in community conflict resolution▫Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution

•Use mediators and facilitators

Mediation•A problem-solving process•Those in conflict meet with a

neutral third-party (the mediator) in a safe setting to discuss and resolve their differences

•Mediators do not take sides, give advice, make suggestions, or impose settlements.▫They ask clarifying questions,

reflect feelings, and identify needsSource: http://www.mediation-works.org/pg16.cfm

Predicting Future Conflicts

•Learn from previous community conflicts▫Gather information through community

questionnaires, surveys, etc.•The ability to understand past conflicts

helps communities to develop new strategies for preventing, managing, and intervening in future conflicts

Predicting Future ConflictsQuestions to ask to help predict conflict:

• Are natural resources a factor that may cause conflict in your community?

• Are there any religious or ethnic factors that may cause conflict in the future?

• Does the government/municipality represent the people’s ideas and needs? Encourage debate and discussion of ideas within the community?

• Have there been any economic shocks or financial crises within the community?

Conflict Resolution Organizations•Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre

(Alberta)•Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution

Image Sources: http://www.mrjc.ca & http://www.cicr-icrc.ca

The Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (CICR)•Peace-making process•Enables community groups and

organizations to become their own “conflict resolvers”▫Facilitates processes and community

dialogues to develop local solutions to local conflicts

▫Offers community-level training in conflict resolution

•Uses Community Based Conflict Resolution

Community Based Conflict Resolution (CBCR)

The processes of CBCR should:•Foster dignity and respect•Be positively centered•Be inclusive and barrier-free•Be vision-based•Be timely and sustainable•Recognize the complexity of conflict

Source: http://www.cicr-icrc.ca/media/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20CBCR%20definition01.pdf

Resources• Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (http://www.cicr-icrc.ca/pages/intro.php)• Community Conflict: A Resource Pack (

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/communityconflict)• Conflict Resolution: Acknowledge the conflict exists

(http://www.entrepreneurialwoman.ca/2011/09/14/conflict-resolution-acknowledge-the-conflict-exists)

• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Community Capacity Building http://www.ibrd.gov.nl.ca/regionaldev/capacitybuilding.html

• Listening Games and Activities (http://www.articlesforeducators.com/dir/language_arts/listening_skills/listening_games.asp)

• Mediation and Restorative Justice Centre (http://mrjc.ca/)• Mediation Works (http://www.mediation-works.org)• Newfoundland and Labrador Regional Economic Development Association

(NLREDA). Resource Materials• http://www.nlreda.ca/content.php?cid=40&nav=71 • Resolve Your Dispute (http://resolveyourdispute.co.uk/conflict-is-inevitable-but-

combat-is-optional/)• Workplace Conflict: An Inevitable Fact of Life

(http://www.mediate.com/articles/workedit2.cfm)

Thank you!