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Button 1990conflicts PDF
Button 1990conflicts PDF
and Resolution
Working paper 1
Conflict Resolution
as a Political System
by
John W. Burton, Ph.D., Sc.D.
Distinguished
Visiting Professor
of
Conflict
Resolution
Pragmatism 4
Hidden Failures 5
University.
i
that we present "Conflict Resolution as a Political System," as
follow.
February, 1988
Joseph A. Scimecca, Director
Center for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
George Mason University
ii
Resolution, Theory and Practice (1986, with E. Azar). His latest
contains."
iv
CONFLICT RESOLUTION AS A POLITICAL SYSTEM
John W. Burton
1
a possible sense of injustice by weaker parties.
conflict by methods that are analytical and that get to the root
provide insights into the generic nature of the problem and thus
solving.
2
traditional processes of courts and arbitrators, what are termed
3
sis of the nature of conflict. It is a significant subsidiary,
Pragmatism.
involve.
within any one pragmatic approach. While one third party might
4
universal phenomena. The hypothesis is that there are generic
Hidden Failures.
5
responsibilities for the consequences. Failure is evidence of
of conflict which are now the major concern of most nations and
6
Serious and Deep-Rooted Conflict.
7
ficial are handled with a full awareness of the nature of human
conflict.
8
generating the conflict. Focussing on areas of agreement and
a lasting agreement.
tions and the need to alter attitudes that they can convincingly
concerned.
9
interpersonal situation. The participants in an interpersonal
by conflict resolution.
10
believed to be its nature, that is, by one's theory of conflict.
are enacted.
11
The Underlying Theory of Conflict Resolution
than containment.
precludes remediation.
Jails are now full and arms escalation has become too costly
expediency.
12
analytical explanatory theory which suggests quite different
of conflict resolution.
13
it soon becomes clear that it is value- and needs- based (that
superficial nature.
14
the only self which is important. It undermines, therefore, the
analytical processes.
development one party experiences, the more and not the less are
achieving these goals, but does not make them unachievable; that
15
relevant but only in the context of satisfying basic qualitative
needs.
and needs. The political reality is that unless these needs are
16
that the Vietnam war commenced as a post-colonial struggle for
alternatives.
17
concern of political elites, for example, is role defense, which
For peoples who lack not only recognition, but even the raw
Between these two extremes, that is, between those who have
18
authorities at all levels, from parents to national authoritative
elites.
political relations.
19
In summarizing this conception of conflict resolution, it is
20
present a messy field of different approaches, most of them
resolution.
We have had a process in the past that has cut across times
the internationa l.
21
This is historically what could be expected. The
or planned (see Easton, 1963). Over time, however, there has been
political philosophy.
are substituted for elite rule, legal norms and power politics.
as a political system.
22
authoritative controls, but at the same time push societies
relationships.
institutional setting.
23
trying to do throughout the ages. They have, however, paid most
Now that we are at the end of this line we must ask whether
we have been on the right track. The struggle has been to find
24
philosophers or priests, by elites with power, and by elites
of the individual.
been their view that people can be classified into two groups:
those who are capable of ruling and those who are not capable of
social philosophy.
25
individuals.
and communalism are all running into problems that threaten their
constituencies.
26
systems. When conflict resolution processes point to the costs
27
It is in this sense that conflict resolution which reaches
exponential rate.
28
1987) in the wider global society.
settlement, of conflict.
29
the light of additional knowledge of human behavior and reinter-
30
interests, which frequently lead to behaviors that run counter to
decisions that are made for some short term gain, even at great
31
coercion of compromise, power bargaining and negotiation. Indeed,
Concluding Comment
32
REFERENCES
Administrative Conference of the United States. Off ice of
Chairman. Sourcebook: Federal Agency Use of Alternative Means of
Dispute Resolution. Washington, DC: US GPO, 1987
33