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International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict |
Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA |
When two people, groups, or nation-states are dependent on each other for important needs, the cost of severe conflict is much higher than it is if they are not. (This is because conflict will cause the loss of whatever is provided by the other party.) For this reason, people, groups, or nations which are interdependent are much less able to risk a serious conflict which would completely sever cooperative relationships. In addition, interdependence tends to foster cooperative relationships, since it takes cooperation to get the parties' needs met. Development of interdependence is therefore a conflict-prevention strategy.
Developing interdependence is also a de-escalating strategy, which encourages cooperation and peacebuilding to replace competition and conflict escalation. The development of trade relationships between hostile nations, for example, increases each nation's dependence on the other and reduces the likelihood of war. This was done between the U.S. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, for example, as well as between the U.S. and China. In both cases the result has been a warming of relations--in the case of the Soviet Union, trade with the West was one of many factors that encouraged them to change their entire economic and political system.
Establish Personal Relationships
Establishment of Civil Society
Overly Competitive Approaches to a Conflict
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