Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

1. Conflict – a fact of lifeSymbol for danger andopportunity,No one escapes conflictlike the Chinese word forconflict: crisisAs long as there is interactionconflict is part and parcel of human societyConflict can take place anywhereIn conflicts we are confronted and we confront backThere is no immunity from conflictConflict is both the force that cantear relationships apart and the force thatbinds them together.Conflict 1 is part of reality, as old as mankind and a general phenomenon that existsat all levels of human relationships and every level of society. Conflict is thereforesomething natural, common to all relationships and cultures. Conflicts will alwaysexist; they are an inherent part of social life — both in times of peace and times of war.The existence of conflict is often classified as problematic or even a threat topeace. This perception is based on the idea that there can be only one winner at theexpense of a loser; this also implies the thought that only one side has the access tothe ‘truth’ and possesses the ‘right’. Additionally, conflict is often driven by a sense ofhurt and grievance, as something that disrupts peace and harmony, as somethingthat might destroy relationships or create hostilities; it even seems that conflict promotesviolence. Surely, conflict bears a risk of escalation and it can certainly teardown and destroy. The consistent danger of escalation is the part of conflicts wherethe real problem lies. Even more so as most people place emphasis on power play tofind a solution, which makes a conflict increasingly difficult to control. If the thresholdto violence is crossed and the conflict escalates further to a level where it spinsout of control, it results in destruction and suffering. Having reached this state ofconflict, it is difficult or impossible to continue relations for any length of time.From this point of view, conflict is at best uncomfortable, at worst highly destruc-94 I I I . C O N F L I C T