Conflict resolution involves an awareness of the circumstances that give rise to acute disagreements. When resolving conflicts, a relationship of equilibrium is established, or an agreement is reached on a controversial issue.
Criteria and types of conflict resolution
The outcomes of conflicts can be very diverse. Based on this, various criteria for resolving conflicts are distinguished. Most often, the main ones are the end of the conflict and the achievement of the goal by one of the participants or by both parties.
American specialist K. Mitchell has expanded the list of parameters that serve as evidence that the conflict is resolved and will not arise again. Among them: the problem that underlies the conflicts disappears; the solution to the conflict is taken by all parties both at the level of the elites and at the level of the people; the agreement is self-contained and does not require a third party; the solution to the conflict is not a compromise, i.e. does not infringe on the interests of any of the parties; the agreement establishes a new positive relationship between the parties; participants voluntarily accept agreements without force.
Thus, from such a wide list of conflict resolution, complete and partial resolution on an objective or subjective basis is distinguished.
Stages and technologies of conflict resolution
Conflict resolution technologies are a multi-stage process that consists of several stages. Among them: the analytical stage, the evaluative stage, the choice of a method for resolving the conflict, the formation of an action plan and the implementation of this plan. Based on the results of the implementation of a set of measures, their effectiveness is assessed.
In practice, conflicting methods can eliminate the contradictions that have arisen on the basis of a force option, compromise, integral model or separation of the parties. The methods used can be divided into violent (eg war) and non-violent (eg negotiation).
The power model and power domination is a model that suppresses the interests of one of the parties. It is based on the principle “the strong is always right”. A variety of methods can be used - psychological, physical impact. The means of the power model include ultimatums, threats, violent actions, etc. Dominance and victory in a conflict can be achieved at the expense of economic resources, administrative levers. Often this method involves shifting responsibility to the weaker side, which replaces the cause of the conflict. At the same time, it will not be possible to finally resolve such a social conflict, only to extinguish it for a while. The only option for resolving the conflict by force is to completely eliminate it for a while.
The forceful model of resolving social conflicts can be justified only if the opponent provokes the conflict, public opinion supports the conflict, a large number of victims, antagonism of interests, etc. This is the most common way of resolving social conflicts in authoritarian societies.
The strategy of separating the parties to a conflict assumes that it is resolved by isolating the parties. The model is quite effective, but it can destroy the social system and lead to its disintegration.
The compromise model is a way of reconciling the interests of the parties, which consists in mutual concessions of the conflicting parties. This model deduces and adjusts the communication process between the parties. At the same time, the conflicts themselves are not resolved, but only acquire an institutional framework. This allows the ruling elites to control them and avoid escalation.
The integral strategy provides for the possibility of satisfying the interests of the parties, subject to their revision of their positions. This model is capable of integrating the interests of conflicts and does not imply sacrificing one's own interests.
