Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

Answers to the following questions may provide useful starting points for discussionson specific aspects.▶ How do people perceive and understand the ways of communicating,expressing feelings or their own level of engagement in conflicts?▶ How do people understand structures such as time, land, belief orauthorities; respect, honour, gender and age?▶ What values do people hold very important?▶ What do people think about life in general and ways of decision making?▶ How do people perceive, approach and handle conflict, dialogue,negotiation, mediation?▶ What is the thinking about reconciliation, forgiveness, revenge, healing?▶ Which aspects of culture contribute positively or negatively to conflicthandling?▶ How do traditional and modern cultural aspects influence the conflictand its transformation?4. Methods of transforming conflictConflict resolution is the process of leading the conflict parties to a shared andagreed solution. In many cases a final solution is hardly reached, therefore the focusof this resource book is on conflict transformation. Still, solutions to specific issuesare surely possible to find in every conflict. What is presented below is a list of methodsin alphabetical order, applicable depending on the type and level of the conflict.All of them are aimed at reaching acceptable solutions by peaceful means.ArbitrationArbitration means that the conflict‐parties appoint a third party or a representativeamong themselves to assist in solving the conflict. The conflict parties appoint thearbitrator to make the arrangements for the arbitration process and to take the decisionson their behalf. Often there is no obligation for the parties to accept the outcome,but the weight of the arbitrator’s decision might provide impetus for the partiesto reconsider their options to the solution of the conflict.FacilitationFacilitation is an assisted process that is similar to mediation in its objective: toincrease the effectiveness of their communication abilities and therefore their problemsolving abilities. The facilitator must not be an ‘outsider’; it can be a person4 . M e t h o d s o f t r a n s f o r m i n g c o n f l i c t 267