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International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict |
Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA |
Sometimes disputants will refuse to consider any type of mutually beneficial agreement or relationship until the core intractable issues have been resolved. Usually, they hope that withholding normal relations will pressure an opponent into making concessions. While this strategy may be effective, it also blocks the relationship-building activities which can provide a basis for constructively addressing the core issues.
A similar problem is that disputants may be unwilling to pursue a short-term agreement and partial victory, because they fear that such an approach would undermine their long-term prospects of achieving their goals. Thus they take an all-or-nothing approach. They insist that the opponent be willing to make major concessions before they are even willing to open negotiations.
Examples of the All-or-Nothing Problem:
Links to Possible Treatments for This Problem:
Identifying and Pursuing Negotiable Sub-Issues
Links to Related Problems:
Limits to Agreement: Better Alternatives
Copyright ©1998 Conflict Research Consortium -- Contact: crc@colorado.edu