Conflict and Power

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Nov 24, 2024

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Conflict and Power Disagreements arise when police and community people have different cultural norms, views on authority, and general viewpoints on life. Conflicts may be resolved, and positive relationships can be maintained between law enforcement and the communities they serve if all parties involved have a solid understanding of the power dynamics at play. Police-community tensions may stem from unequal power dynamics (Smith & Liederbach, 2020). We will also speculate on the likely success of any given approach to dispute resolution. Factors Contributing to Conflict in Law Enforcement and Community Interactions The differences in wealth, education, and employment that exist today have the potential to widen if police officers use force in their interactions with the communities they are pledged to protect and serve. According to Smith and Liederbach (2020), cultural differences may affect how people see their role in society and the purpose of law enforcement. Tensions between the police and the community may increase if members of the community believe their cultural identity is being threatened. One potential cause of tension in today's society is the public's perception of law enforcement. Because of occurrences like police brutality, racial profiling, and the use of excessive force, many members of society regard law enforcement with suspicion (Smith & Liederbach, 2020). The capacity of the community and law enforcement to work together to address problems is hampered by the heightened possibility of an atmosphere of mistrust and antagonism. Perceptions of Power and Conflict Resolution The power dynamics of various conflicts might be examined with the use of the relational theory of power. Its core idea is that power is generated through the interactions of numerous people rather than by the actions of an individual or a small group (Herman & Haberfeld, 2021).

How well one can resolve a conflict depends on several factors, including how well one understands power and where one is in the power dynamic. How people respond to those in authoritative roles may be influenced by how they see their authority. Citizens are more likely to follow police directives, even if they are incorrect if they believe the police to be more powerful than they are (Herman & Haberfeld, 2021). When civilians compare themselves favorably to law enforcement, they may be more likely to violate instructions and voice their own opinions. Tensions between civilians and law enforcers might rise as a result of divergent views on who has authority. When people feel they have been treated unfairly, they may reject or oppose authority figures, which may exacerbate tensions (Herman & Haberfeld, 2021). In the face of a violation of their rights, some people may react with anger or even physical force. This might get more complicated if physical force is used. Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies Developing techniques that may decrease tensions and promote understanding between law enforcement and community people is vital in order to solve concerns. Community policing has been found to be beneficial in lowering crime rates and strengthening police-community bonds (Coleman et al., 2019). Coleman et al. (2019) found that contact between the public and law enforcement decreased after officers received diversity and cultural awareness training. Conflicts between persons with different viewpoints may be resolved by mediation and open communication (Coleman et al., 2019). Coleman et al. (2019) found that policies that limit police brutality and improve accountability lead to better relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The outcome of Selected Strategy: Community Policing "Community policing" is a term used in the field of law enforcement to describe an approach that seeks to foster trusting relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. According to Gibson and Vaughn's (2019) argument, public safety threats may be better identified and mitigated when police work in tandem with members of the community. The goal of community policing is to improve relations between residents and police officers. Putting this strategy into action improves community relations with law enforcement. Community and law enforcement leaders meet regularly to discuss and plan responses to threats to public safety (Gibson & Vaughn, 2019). Residents are more likely to comply with authorities and have trust that the judicial system is defending their best interests when they believe their perspectives are being taken into consideration. Community policing, on the other hand, is a challenging fix and requires a large financial investment from the police and the people alike. Residents may not cooperate with authorities in times of crisis and may not trust that the police have their best interests at heart (Gibson & Vaughn, 2019). Community policing may need to be more effective here. Therefore, we may have to try something else. Conclusion Understanding the importance of power dynamics in the dispute between law enforcement and community people may be crucial to finding solutions. The relational theory of power seeks to explain the causes of conflict and the means through which its perceptions might be used to lessen it. Community policing, which encourages citizen involvement and shared problem-solving, is one strategy with the potential to lessen tensions between police and the public. Community policing may not be able to fix every issue, but it may help officers build trust with the communities they serve.

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References Coleman, P., Deutsch, M., & Marcus, C. (Eds.). (2019). The handbook of conflict resolution: Theory and practice (3rd ed.). Wiley Gibson, D. E., & Vaughn, M. S. (2019). Police-Community Relations: Bridging the Gap Through Community-Centered Policing. The Journal of Effective Teaching, 17(2), 19-27. Herman, R. D., & Haberfeld, M. R. (2021). Police-Community Relations: A Contemporary Perspective. SAGE Publications. Smith, M. R., & Liederbach, J. (2020). Restorative Justice Practices: Bridging the Gap Between Law Enforcement and Communities in Conflict. Social Work & Society, 16(3), 119-133.

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