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International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict |
Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA |
Often people in conflict assume that the other side is completely unreasonable, and is unwilling to listen to any persuasive argument. The use of force or coercion, it is often assumed, is the only way to prevail. For this reason, people in some cultures tend to turn to violent or coercive strategies more quickly and more frequently than they need to. They do not even consider trying to use more positive strategies--such as persuasion or negotiation--because they assume that any such effort will be a waste of time or resources, and may suggest one's own willingness to fight for one's rights is weak. This outcome is especially likely when one's opponent refuses to listen to persuasive arguments or accept requests to negotiate.
When conflicts involve groups, not just individuals, different members of each group will vary in their opinions and in the strength of their opposition to the other side. Often it is assumed that the entire group believes what the leadership believes. At other times, the leadership may be fairly moderate, but a few extremists will get coverage by the media (since extreme stories are sometimes considered more "newsworthy"). When this happens, people often assume that all members of the opposition are as extreme as the people described by the media. They therefore conclude that the opposition as a whole is unreasonable, and that no effort at persuasion stands a chance of succeeding.
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