Peace, Harmony and Conflict Resolution
Peace, Harmony and Conflict Resolution tests whether you treat conflict as a normal difference to be handled, and can choose a resolution style and a non-blaming script.
Core ideas
- Conflict is a difference of needs, interests or values. It is not the same as violence, which is one destructive response to conflict.
- Negative peace is the absence of war; positive peace is the presence of justice, fairness and cooperation (Galtung).
- Five conflict styles: avoiding, accommodating, competing, compromising, collaborating. Collaborating works best when both sides' needs matter and time allows; avoiding suits trivial issues; competing suits emergencies.
- Nonviolent communication (Rosenberg): state the observation, the feeling, the need, and a clear request - without blame.
- Mediation: a neutral third party helps, decisions stay voluntary and confidential.
- Gandhi's ahimsa and satyagraha hold that means and ends must match; a violent method corrupts a peaceful goal.
Worked example
In a shared project, one partner keeps missing deadlines. Blaming ("you are so irresponsible") invites a counter-attack. Instead: "When the file came at midnight without your section, I felt anxious because I need time to check it. Would you send your part by Thursday?" Add a written schedule. Reasoning: this is collaboration - both the work quality and the friendship are protected.
Traps that cost marks
- Defining peace as silence or avoidance of the issue.
- Calling any compromise "collaboration"; compromise splits the difference, collaboration searches for a new solution.
- Aiming to win the argument rather than solve the problem.
- Using "you always" and "you never", which trigger defensiveness.