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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 29 2009, 8:08 AM EDT (current) | chachabooth | 692 words added, 1 photo added |
| Jul 29 2009, 8:01 AM EDT | chachabooth |
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The conflict tree
Brief description of the tool
This is a graphic model that uses the image of a tree in order to identify causes and effects of a core problem through three questions:
In the conflict tree model, conflict is compared to a tree, with roots, the trunk and branches.
Roots
These are the causes of conflict. Although they are underneath the surface and therefore invisible, the roots are the anchor and sources of life for the tree. Such root causes of conflict could for example be poverty, unequal access to resources, ethnic divides and prejudices, bad governance, etc. Not all roots left in the soil produce a tree. Likewise, not all root causes do necessarily produce a violent conflict, they only provide the potential for conflict. Other contributing factors like rich soil, water, a gardener etc. will be needed to produce the conflict tree.
The trunk
This is where all the roots have converged and it is difficult to distinguish the link of the trunk to a particular string of the roots. As a convergence of the roots, the trunk contains all dimensions of the conflict.
The branches, leaves and fruits
This is the multitude of smaller conflicts or dimensions of the conflict emerging out of the trunk. They are the effects of the conflict. Over time, the fruits and leaves of the tree – i.e. the effects of conflict – can fall into the fertile soil, germinate and develop another tree separate from the original tree. This illustrates the complexity of conflicts.
Sources:
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division of Public Administration and Development Management, Developing Capacities for Conflict Analysis and Early Response. A Training Manual, YEAR, pp. 39f. <http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan011117.pdf> (accessed 24 June 2009)
Fisher, Simon et. al., Working With Conflict. Skills and Strategies for Action, Responding to Conflict, London: Zed Books 2000, pp. 29f.
The peace flower
When doing conflict analysis, it is easy to focus on conflict – and to forget the actors, structures and processes promoting peace. The peace flower focuses on these aspects and asks the following questions:
In this tool, peace is compared to a flower with three main parts: roots, stem and petals.
Systemic supports (roots):
The systems that uphold peace or “conflict carrying capacity” of society. Examples may be traditional norms that regulate inter-community relations, traditional conflict handling mechanisms, a culture of tolerance, etc.
Peace-promoting processes that are in place (stem):
The processes that are in place for dealing with conflict and that sustain peace. This may include: inter-village meetings, elders’ dialogue processes, etc.
Ongoing peace efforts (petals):
What peace efforts are currently ongoing? Look at different levels (national and local, international mediation).
Source: Adapted from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division of Public Administration and Development Management, Developing Capacities for Conflict Analysis and Early Response. A Training Manual, YEAR, pp. 42f. <http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan011117.pdf> (accessed 24 June 2009)
Brief description of the tool
This is a graphic model that uses the image of a tree in order to identify causes and effects of a core problem through three questions:
- What is the name of the tree? (i.e. What is the core problem?)
- What are the roots of the tree? (i.e. What are the causes of the core problem?)
- What are the branches of the tree? (i.e. What are the effects of the core problem?)
- It can assist a group in agreeing on a core problem. This core problem can be an entry point for the design of peacebuilding activities.
- Through the visual expression, it is well-suited to motivate group discussions about causes and effects.
- It provides means to structure complexity and thereby create understanding.
- In conflicts, it is often difficult to disentangle causes and effects. The relationship is often more circular in nature, with effects becoming causes. An analysis with the conflict tree model therefore runs the risk of giving a too simple picture. This weakness can be addressed by deliberately pointing to this risk and think about how effects can become causes.
In the conflict tree model, conflict is compared to a tree, with roots, the trunk and branches.
Roots
These are the causes of conflict. Although they are underneath the surface and therefore invisible, the roots are the anchor and sources of life for the tree. Such root causes of conflict could for example be poverty, unequal access to resources, ethnic divides and prejudices, bad governance, etc. Not all roots left in the soil produce a tree. Likewise, not all root causes do necessarily produce a violent conflict, they only provide the potential for conflict. Other contributing factors like rich soil, water, a gardener etc. will be needed to produce the conflict tree.
The trunk
This is where all the roots have converged and it is difficult to distinguish the link of the trunk to a particular string of the roots. As a convergence of the roots, the trunk contains all dimensions of the conflict.
The branches, leaves and fruits
This is the multitude of smaller conflicts or dimensions of the conflict emerging out of the trunk. They are the effects of the conflict. Over time, the fruits and leaves of the tree – i.e. the effects of conflict – can fall into the fertile soil, germinate and develop another tree separate from the original tree. This illustrates the complexity of conflicts.
Sources:
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division of Public Administration and Development Management, Developing Capacities for Conflict Analysis and Early Response. A Training Manual, YEAR, pp. 39f. <http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan011117.pdf> (accessed 24 June 2009)
Fisher, Simon et. al., Working With Conflict. Skills and Strategies for Action, Responding to Conflict, London: Zed Books 2000, pp. 29f.
The peace flower
When doing conflict analysis, it is easy to focus on conflict – and to forget the actors, structures and processes promoting peace. The peace flower focuses on these aspects and asks the following questions:
- What is the name of the flower? (i.e. What is the peace issue?)
- What are the roots of the peace flower? (i.e. What are systemic supports for peace? What structural factors exist that can promote peace?)
- What are the petals of the flower? (i.e. What peace efforts are ongoing?)
In this tool, peace is compared to a flower with three main parts: roots, stem and petals.
Systemic supports (roots):
The systems that uphold peace or “conflict carrying capacity” of society. Examples may be traditional norms that regulate inter-community relations, traditional conflict handling mechanisms, a culture of tolerance, etc.
Peace-promoting processes that are in place (stem):
The processes that are in place for dealing with conflict and that sustain peace. This may include: inter-village meetings, elders’ dialogue processes, etc.
Ongoing peace efforts (petals):
What peace efforts are currently ongoing? Look at different levels (national and local, international mediation).
Source: Adapted from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division of Public Administration and Development Management, Developing Capacities for Conflict Analysis and Early Response. A Training Manual, YEAR, pp. 42f. <http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan011117.pdf> (accessed 24 June 2009)
