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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 24 2009, 2:57 AM EDT (current) | chachabooth | |
| Aug 4 2009, 1:51 AM EDT | chachabooth | 10 words added |
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The three Ps is an analytical tool developed by John Paul Lederach. The model asks questions about the people, the processes, and the problems in order to analyse the conflict.
Strength
The corners of the three Ps triangle represent dimensions of a conflict. It can be useful to look at each of the three dimensions by using a set of questions. On the basis of understanding the three corners, their interdependences can be scrutinized.
People:
People refers to the actors – individuals and groups – that are involved in a conflict. It includes their behavior as well as feelings, emotions, individual and group perceptions of a problem.[1] Questions to ask are:
Problems:
This refers to the specific issues involved in the conflict and the differences people have between them. Problems are often also referred to as “causes of conflict”. This may involve different values, opposing views about how to make a decision, incompatible needs and interests, and concrete differences with regards to the use, distribution or access to scarce resources.
The following questions can be useful to identify problems:
Refers to the ways used to take and implement decisions by the people and with regards to the problems. It could also be called conflict dynamics. The processes result from ways that actors position themselves and deal with the problems.
Strength
- Looks at conflicts in their multi-dimensional nature by analysing causes, actors and conflict dynamics.
- Due to its more in-depth approach, it can be time-consuming.
The corners of the three Ps triangle represent dimensions of a conflict. It can be useful to look at each of the three dimensions by using a set of questions. On the basis of understanding the three corners, their interdependences can be scrutinized.
People:
People refers to the actors – individuals and groups – that are involved in a conflict. It includes their behavior as well as feelings, emotions, individual and group perceptions of a problem.[1] Questions to ask are:
- Who is involved in a conflict?
This could include:
o national government
o security forces
o armed groups
o local and national political leaders
o political parties
o prominant civil servants
o traditional and community leaders
o refugee and displaced communities
o local civil society: NGOs, media, religious groups, trade unions, student groups
o criminal organisations and networks
o private sector, businesses
o external: conflict mediators, diaspora, neighboring governments, donors, other interested governments, transnational corporations, international NGOs, etc.
As can be seen in the list, actors on local/grassroots, national and international level have to be taken into account. (Note: See here Lederach’s track pyramid).
- Who is a primary, who is a secondary party?[2]
- For the key actors, you can further ask:
o What are the goals and interest of these actors?
o What are the attitudes and behaviours of the actors?
o How do they perceive the situation and how do the perceptions of the groups differ?
o What is the composition of the actors? Who holds power in the group and what is the internal cohesion of the actor?
o What are the main power sources of the actors? What is the relative strength of actors? (How is power distributed in the conflict system? (symmetries or asymmetries?)
Problems:
This refers to the specific issues involved in the conflict and the differences people have between them. Problems are often also referred to as “causes of conflict”. This may involve different values, opposing views about how to make a decision, incompatible needs and interests, and concrete differences with regards to the use, distribution or access to scarce resources.
The following questions can be useful to identify problems:
- What issues are at stake in the conflict?
- What are the actors/people fighting over?
- What are the stated interests and needs of the parties? What are the underlying (or: hidden) needs of the parties?
- Are their common values and interests in the conflict? What is the conflict not about?
Refers to the ways used to take and implement decisions by the people and with regards to the problems. It could also be called conflict dynamics. The processes result from ways that actors position themselves and deal with the problems.
- What methods are used in dealing with the problems in the conflict? Violence? Other ways, such as demonstrations, protests, legal battles? Conflict transformation mechanisms?
- What is changing (escalation, de-escalation)? What is not changing?
- What patterns of how the conflict changes/evolves can be identified?
[1] See here Galtung’s conflict triangle.
[2] Primary parties: Are those who oppose one another (whose goals are or are perceived to be incompatible, are using fighting behaviour, and have a direct stake in the outcome. The primary parties interact directly in pursue of their goals. Each primary party can be internally differentiated, be composed of smaller units.
Secondary parties: They have an indirect stake in the outcome. Often, they are allies of sympathizers with primary parties, but are not direct adversaries.
Secondary parties: They have an indirect stake in the outcome. Often, they are allies of sympathizers with primary parties, but are not direct adversaries.
