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fandomhigh2007-03-05 10:42 am
dr-jwilsonmd.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2007-03-05 10:42 am
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Conflict Management and Resolution: Mon Period 4 - Class # 8 - Mar 5
Wilson sat behind his desk carefully sorting through the sheets he’d made up to critique the students on their mid-term assignment. He had been extremely pleased with the whole class and today there were muffins and other snack items, as well as tea, coffee and cocoa laid out for anyone who wished for a quick bite as they signed in.
When everyone was settled, Wilson stood up and smiled.
“Good morning. I hope everybody enjoyed their break; I can assure you that mine was quite…enlightening. Okay a few house cleaning items I need to go over and we’ll get started on today’s lecture.”
As he spoke, he walked through the rows of seats, handing back the critiques.
“First of all, I’d like to compliment all of you on the work you did for your mid-terms. These were excellent and I think you’ll find that your grades reflect this. If you have any question about your grade, see me after class.” [ooc: Feel free to mod your grade, everybody rocked last class, thank you all for that!!]
Once he had everything handed out, he went back to the front of the class, gave the kids a moment to flip through their grades and then called for their attention once more.
“So, in two weeks we’ll be taking a field trip up to New York to observe some of the practices of the U.N. We’ll be leaving on Friday the 16th after classes and returning Sunday evening, sometime before midnight. I will have an itinerary and room assignments ready for you in next week’s class but if you know for some reason that you will not be able to travel with us, please let me know this week. After class, voicemail or during my office hours, whatever suits. The same if you just have general questions or concerns.”
Looking across the group, Wilson nodded and pushed away from the desk.
Lecture:
“Okay, let’s get started.”
Moving to the overhead, Wilson flipped off the lights and put the first film on the projector.
“Today we’re going to talk about intractable conflicts. An intractable conflict is first and foremost, a process (not just a single violent episode) of competitive relationships that extend over a period of time, and involves hostile perceptions and occasional military actions. The term itself acts as an integrating concept connoting processes where states become enmeshed in a web of negative interactions and hostile orientations. This pattern is repeated, indeed worsened, every so often, with the parties involved unable to curb, or manage, the escalation of their relationships.
These conflicts are characterized as follows:”
Wilson had the notes written up on the overhead.
1. In terms of actors, intractable conflicts involve states or other actors with a long sense of historical grievance, and a strong desire to redress or avenge these.
2. In terms of duration, intractable conflicts take place over a long period of time.
3. In terms of issues, intractable conflicts involve intangible issues such as identity, sovereignty, or values and beliefs.
4. In terms of relationships, intractable conflicts involve polarized perceptions of hostility and enmity, and behavior that is violent and destructive.
5. In terms of geopolitics, intractable conflicts usually take place where buffer states exist between major power blocks or civilizations.
6. In terms of management, intractable conflicts resist many conflict management efforts and have a history of failed peace making efforts.
“Given the characteristics of intractable conflicts, the lack of contact between the parties, the hostility and repeated violence, it seems plausible to suggest that one path out of this dilemma would be to accept some form of third-party mediation. Third parties can play a very useful role in the context of intractable conflicts.”
Class Activity:
Shutting off the overhead and turning on the lights, Wilson leaned back against the desk and smiled at the class.
“Well, we’ve already worked on third party negotiation in class. So today I would like you guys to take the remainder of the class, think about an intractable conflict you may have heard about, been involved in, be curious about and I want you to write out a brief essay on how you would approach it, were you asked to be a third party mediator to such a conflict.”
[ooc: Class cribbed from The Conflict Resolution Information Resource website.Please wait for The OCDs are up! Class is in session.]
When everyone was settled, Wilson stood up and smiled.
“Good morning. I hope everybody enjoyed their break; I can assure you that mine was quite…enlightening. Okay a few house cleaning items I need to go over and we’ll get started on today’s lecture.”
As he spoke, he walked through the rows of seats, handing back the critiques.
“First of all, I’d like to compliment all of you on the work you did for your mid-terms. These were excellent and I think you’ll find that your grades reflect this. If you have any question about your grade, see me after class.” [ooc: Feel free to mod your grade, everybody rocked last class, thank you all for that!!]
Once he had everything handed out, he went back to the front of the class, gave the kids a moment to flip through their grades and then called for their attention once more.
“So, in two weeks we’ll be taking a field trip up to New York to observe some of the practices of the U.N. We’ll be leaving on Friday the 16th after classes and returning Sunday evening, sometime before midnight. I will have an itinerary and room assignments ready for you in next week’s class but if you know for some reason that you will not be able to travel with us, please let me know this week. After class, voicemail or during my office hours, whatever suits. The same if you just have general questions or concerns.”
Looking across the group, Wilson nodded and pushed away from the desk.
Lecture:
“Okay, let’s get started.”
Moving to the overhead, Wilson flipped off the lights and put the first film on the projector.
“Today we’re going to talk about intractable conflicts. An intractable conflict is first and foremost, a process (not just a single violent episode) of competitive relationships that extend over a period of time, and involves hostile perceptions and occasional military actions. The term itself acts as an integrating concept connoting processes where states become enmeshed in a web of negative interactions and hostile orientations. This pattern is repeated, indeed worsened, every so often, with the parties involved unable to curb, or manage, the escalation of their relationships.
These conflicts are characterized as follows:”
Wilson had the notes written up on the overhead.
2. In terms of duration, intractable conflicts take place over a long period of time.
3. In terms of issues, intractable conflicts involve intangible issues such as identity, sovereignty, or values and beliefs.
4. In terms of relationships, intractable conflicts involve polarized perceptions of hostility and enmity, and behavior that is violent and destructive.
5. In terms of geopolitics, intractable conflicts usually take place where buffer states exist between major power blocks or civilizations.
6. In terms of management, intractable conflicts resist many conflict management efforts and have a history of failed peace making efforts.
“Given the characteristics of intractable conflicts, the lack of contact between the parties, the hostility and repeated violence, it seems plausible to suggest that one path out of this dilemma would be to accept some form of third-party mediation. Third parties can play a very useful role in the context of intractable conflicts.”
Class Activity:
Shutting off the overhead and turning on the lights, Wilson leaned back against the desk and smiled at the class.
“Well, we’ve already worked on third party negotiation in class. So today I would like you guys to take the remainder of the class, think about an intractable conflict you may have heard about, been involved in, be curious about and I want you to write out a brief essay on how you would approach it, were you asked to be a third party mediator to such a conflict.”
[ooc: Class cribbed from The Conflict Resolution Information Resource website.
Re: Essay
By Blair Sandburg
I would first negotiate a cease-licking. Only after that had been put into effect would I be able to speak with both parties. A lot of conflicts are born out of the fact that the parties feel like they need to defend themselves. I would make the rescuers put down their weapons, and in Alanna's
and Nadia'scase...their hands. The demon tongues would need to promise not to drag/thump or lick people during negotiations. Since I'm not sure if that's a survival technique or not, I'd provide the tongues some hard candy for the duration of the negotiation.My second job would be to provide an comfortable neutral area for everyone to converse. Since the demon tongues are...well, tongues, it'd have to be in the wasteland itself. Maybe a small clearing away from the giant teethy mouths. A lot of books say that chairs and conference tables are good because they provide equality in the resolution process. Personally I believe that is too rigid so I would provide bean bags for the rescuers and chaise lounges for the tongues. (They're very long and would appreciate the space) Since the wasteland is very red, I'd make sure the furniture was a nice soothing blue and possibly put some candles there for ambiance. Not too many since it's important not to replace violent feelings with amorous ones.
Finally I'd try and discover what we could do to end the conflict without violence. I'd try and see what each party wanted and if it was possible for the other party to contribute said want. For instance the rescuers could let the tongues lick them gently in return for not getting thumped to the ground as much. The tongues would in turn promise not to drag the rescuers to a teethy death if the rescuers would promise not to chop them to tiny bits. Opening a dialog between the parties would show them their similarities and help them understand that deep down inside, we're all the same. (Except for the fact that some of us are people and some of us are giant demon tongues) Finally, after the conflict was resolved I'd initiate a group hug.
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[ooc: OMG Blair = Win, totally!]
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