Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

There are alsothe aspects of position,interest, values and needsthat should be analysedin conflicts.PositionInterestValuesNeeds▶ Positions (procedural) of the different conflict parties, which are formal, officialand very often public. The position is what the person says and demands; itincludes interests, needs, fears, although not directly stated. Very often valuesare buried inside a position which might serve as a justification or legitimization.Positions contain an understanding of the situation, the outcome of theconflict and the role that the conflicting party plays in it. (There should be anequal school system nationwide.)▶ Interests (psychological): Conflicting parties are motivated by their own in -terests. They may be expressed but often they are concealed. Frequently, an actormay have several interests in a conflict. Interests and/or their importance forthe actors might change with time, therefore they are negotiable 3 . (Comparisonis only possible if the same criteria are used for certification nationwide.)▶ Values (substantial) are basic qualities which are held to be very importantand may be used to justify positions. They can be cultural norms, laws, ethics orprinciples. They are generally very strong, but eventually changeable. (Equalityfor everyone.)▶ Needs (fundamental) are the essential requirements for human survival.They relate to security, identity, community and the vitality of human life.They are often not stated, although they are at the core of every issue. Needsare not negotiable, but they can be satisfied in different ways. (Security-protectionand integrity, structure, trust in achievement.)Professional conflict analysis can be undertaken for various purposes. The reasondetermines the specific process and the right mix of skills and background of thosepeople conducting the analysis. In any case, the skills and necessary preconditionsare:126 I V. TO O L S F O R A N A LY S I S