S9 - Barriers to Negotiation: Intractability

Question 1

what are intractable conflicts

Answer 1

Protracted (escalate quickly and self-perpetuating)

Destructive (severe and harmful in methods and scale)

Resistant to conflict managemen

Question 2

causes of intractability (Burgess & Burgess, 2003)

Answer 2

irreconcilable moral differences

high-stakes distributional issues

domination or pecking order conflicts

identity conflicts

moral indifferences / distributional issues / pecking order conflict / identity conflicts

Question 3

identities

Answer 3

defaming the other

polarized identities (zero-sum): with us or against us

existential struggle
- grudge culture
- conspirancy thinking

defaming / zero-sum / existential struggle

Question 4

grudge culture

Answer 4

‘our existence is based on a continuous struggle’

Question 5

conspiracy thinking

Answer 5

‘other communities are plotting against us’

Question 6

phases of intractability

Answer 6

1. eruption phase
2. escalation phase
3. institutionalization phase
4. hurting statement
5. de-escalation and transformation phase
6. termination and recovery phase

Question 7

eruption phase

Answer 7

Occurrence of a contentious episode that may intensify and prolong the conflict (e.g. non-violent protests that were crushed violently)

identities are manipulated to create a sense of victimization

formulation of long-standing grievances

reframing of conflict into a zero-sum struggle

episode that intensifies conflict / identities manipulated / grievances / zero-sum

Question 8

escalation phase

Answer 8

Identities, grievances, goals, and methods change in ways that perpetuate the intractability
- identities are polarized
- fighting creates new grievances
- goals become mutually exclusive (and mainly aimed at harming the other)

entrapment
- party increases its investments in the conflict
- party aims for outright victory, reduce alternatives of the other side

perpetuating intractability through polarizing, fighting, exclusive goals

entrapment

Question 9

institutionalization phase

Answer 9

phase that creates self-perpetuation

creation of guiding rules on how to wage a struggle

legitimization of struggle through internalization of animosity

fighting becomes a way-of-life which protracts the conflict

fighting becomes a source of profit

Question 10

De-escalation and Transformation Phase

Answer 10

conflict evolves into a dormant antagonism

gradually grievances get reduced: perceived as unattainable or partially obtained

as costs of fighting increase support for such behaviour might decrease

dormant antagonism / grievences reduce gradually / costs fighting increase

Question 10

Termination and Recovery Phase

Answer 10

conflict may end in a variety of ways:
- internal transformation
- mutually agreed settlements that are implemented
- military victory of one side

creation of new relations

identities are no longer mutually exclusive

goals are not zero-sum: collaborative problem-solving

methods of struggle are not destructive

Question 11

what to do against intractability

Answer 11

prevent

interrupt

undermine instutitoinalization

transform

Question 12

what to do against intractability - prevent

Answer 12

find a proper institutional arrangement

create common identities

react to early signs of friction

Question 13

what to do against intractability - interrupt

Answer 13

avoid entrapment of the other side (terminating repressive measures)

use of coercive measures that can hurt the other parties (like sanctions)

Question 14

what to do against intractability - undermine institutionalization

Answer 14

raise suspicion and criticism regarding the continuation of fighting

provide logistical support to anti-war factions

provide information about the costs of fighting

Question 15

what to do against intractability - transform

Answer 15

change leadership (not always effective)

mediate