Understanding Intractable Conflicts: Paradigms for Resolution

Running head: Intractable Conflict Paradigms Oliver1 Intractable Conflict Paradigms Alyssa Oliver Indiana Tech October 8, 2023

Intractable Conflict Paradigms 2 Intractable conflicts are difficult to solve because they tend to carry on for a long time because nobody can see a clear solution to solve the issue. Intractable conflicts are destructive and persistent. However, there are some paradigms that can be used to solve these types of conflicts. These Paradigms include, the realist paradigm, the human relations paradigm, the pathology paradigm, the postmodern paradigm, and the systems paradigm. The realist paradigm focuses on a need for strong actions to give the protections necessary. This requires us to find an effective way to minimize acts of aggression and create a sense of social and institutional stability. It targets patterns of intergroup dominance and oppression. This approach uses direct force strategies of deterrence, and redirects an opponent’s force against itself. The human relations paradigm gives a sense of hope and possibility. This paradigm tries to use negotiation and mediation to solve issues. It uses human contact and tries to relate with each party to solve issues. It promotes positive problem-solving contact to resolve the conflict. The pathology paradigm views intractable conflict as a disease. This paradigm focuses on diagnosing the problem at its underlying roots and finding a “treatment plan” for the conflict. This is more of a medical point of view of the problem solving process. This paradigm likes to pinpoint where the “disease” started. It finds motives and tensions between the groups involved in the conflict. The postmodern paradigm focuses on the fact that conflict comes from the way that the different parties subjectively define a situation. It focuses on the fact that conflicts that persist are

Intractable Conflict Paradigms 3 caused by each different groups assumption about what is “right” and what is “wrong”. Therefore, the solution comes from critical reflection, dialogue and direct confrontation. This increases the awareness of the complexity of reality and the need for change. The systems paradigm is a biological approach that views conflicts as living entities made up of a variety of interdependent and interactive elements. This approach looks at the whole of the situation and systems that cause the conflicts. It looks at all causing and effecting parts. It focuses on solving the conflict by looking at equality, justice, cooperation, and the containment of tension and violence. The paradigm that seems to resonate with me the most is the system paradigm because it uses factors of all the paradigms put together to find a solution. Without each component that all five paradigms use you aren’t really guaranteed a solution. An intractable conflict that comes to mind is the war going on right now between Russia and Ukraine. There doesn’t seem to be a real solution to solve this issue especially with the threat of nuclear war coming into play now. However, I think that if we get to the root of the problem and find the underlying issues coming from each system we can come up with a solution for the problem. Although, I think that this conflict might be handled better with direct force so the realist paradigm may be better suited to resolve this conflict but with nobody wanting to listen to reason a solution might be quite far off. To conclude I just want to say that each conflict is different and needs a different solution. Conflicts are as unique as we are and need different types of attention. I guess you could say that solving conflicts is kind of like raising children. Everyday there is a new conflict needing a new and special solution designed just for its unique differences.

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Intractable Conflict Paradigms 4 I

Intractable Conflict Paradigms

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