Activity - The relational dimension of conflictThis is a featured page

Purpose:To support participants to understand and internalise the “relational dimension of conflict and change” as described by John Paul Lederach.
Time:90 minutes (40 minutes for paired discussions; 40-60 minutes for plenary discussions).
Participants:2 participants or more.
Materials:
  • Pens;
  • Notebooks;
  • Flip charts;
  • Marker pens;
  • Masking tape;
  • Visual aids - Handouts with questions.
Process:I) Ensure pens and notebooks are distributed in advance to individual participants.

II) Ask participants to think about their everyday relationships with members of other clans within their community.

III) Now ask individuals to pair up, discuss the following questions and note their findings in their flip charts (Distribute the questions as a handout):

Communication Patterns
  • What is the level of contact (regular, open or avoiding/restricted) between or among the clans?
  • Do people have the capacity to express themselves accurately in conversation without fear, judgment, or restriction?
  • Do people have the capacity to listen, that is, to hear accurately the concerns of others, without judgment?
Cooperation
  • What is the level of cooperation on initiatives, projects or goals that are important to both sides, and require cooperation from both sides for their success (little or none to robust and active)?
Decision-making
  • Do people feel they are adequately included in decisions that affect their lives and their communities?
  • Is information-sharing open, accessible and equitable?
  • Are decision-making processes clear and fair?
Conflict handling mechanisms
  • When conflict arises, are there appropriate and effective mechanisms by which it is handled?
  • What patterns emerge when conflict escalates (e.g. does it move quickly from seemingly small incidents to sharp polarization)?
  • Who are the key people who fulfill the peacemaker role in relationships, and are they adequately prepared?
IV) Distribute flip chart papers and markers to each pair together with handout questions. Ask participants to note down responses to the questions on their flip charts for presentations.

V) Ask each pair to do presentations in plenary based on the above questions with questions and answers from the rest of the participants.
Note:Instead of having each pair presenting their findings (that can be very long and boring for participants), you can choose to ask groups to return to the plenary, then ask each question to the plenary (one-by-one) and facilitate the discussion.

Another alternative is a sharing method known as “walk the gallery”. After pairs are finished with their work, ask them to stick the flip chart papers with their findings on the walls around the room. Then ask participants to walk around the room and look at other pairs flip chart papers, making sure that sufficient time is assigned. You can also wrap up the process with a final discussion.
Source:The questions have been adapted from Lederach, J. P., Neufeldt, R., Culbertson, H, Reflective Peacebuilding: A Planning, Monitoring, and Learning Tool Kit, Notre Dame (IN): The Joan B. Kroch Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, 2007, p. 21. The pdf file of this publication is available for free here.


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