The Study of Conflict

The study of conflict goes by many names: Dispute Resolution …Conflict Management … Conflict Transformation …Collaborative Problem Solving … Consensus Building …Peace Building… and many others.

Regardless of what it is called, the study of conflict includes essential core components:

__ The causes & characteristics of conflict, both individual & systemic

__ The contexts in which conflict occurs and the importance of different contexts (e.g. family, organizational, international, or cross-cultural) as they influence the management of conflict

__ Consequences of conflict

__ Strategies for conflict prevention

__ Intervention strategies

Students of conflict explore alternative ways of coping with conflict that include:

__ The diagnosis of organizational conflict patterns and the design of better organizational processes

__ The relationship of settlement-oriented processes to decision-making processes

__ The uses and limits of training as an intervention technique

__ The political implications for management, resolution, or escalation of conflict.

 

The study of conflict is interdisciplinary, and draws on law, sociology, psychology, social psychology, political theory, international relations, and public policy.

Conflict Resolution Practice: Not just Mediation

One common role that conflict practitioners play is that of 3rd party neutral. Mediation is increasingly used in a variety of settings. In the legal system and in the courts, mediation is used as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, litigation. It has become increasingly prevalent in dealing with divorce and custody issues. Other areas where mediation is being used include adoption, elder care, end-of-life decision making, medical malpractice, and organizational and workplace issues.

However, the scope of work of conflict practitioners is broader than mediation. While “conflict practitioner” is not often listed in a job posting, the skills involved are highly valued in a wide variety of contexts.

Many conflict practitioners work within organizations, others as outside consultants. For some conflict resolution and management is their primary job; for others it is one of many responsibilities. Their titles are as varied as Ombudsperson, Human Resources Specialist, Nurse Manager, Division Chief, Foreign Aid Coordinator, School Principal, Environmental Specialist, or Patient Advocate. In their roles, they might:

__ Undertake a comprehensive analysis of conflict resolution systems within an organization, or help to design such systems

__ Be asked to help resolve conflicts between employees or departments

__ Facilitate meetings

__ Become involved with customer relations

__ Conduct negotiations, or coach others involved in complicated negotiations

__ Train others in conflict skills as life skills for violence prevention, advocacy, and self-advocacy.

A review of the web sites of professional organizations such as the Association for Conflict Resolution and the International Ombudsman Association can provide additional perspective about the field.

The "conflict" field is broad and varied, and anything but static. Our Alumni Profiles help illustrate the range of opportunities available.

The Dispute Resolution Graduate Programs are part of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies at UMass Boston.