Introduction to Conflict and Conflict Analysis

Objective:

By the end of this lesson, you will understand the nature of conflict, its stages, and how to analyse it using tools like the Conflict Triangle. This foundational knowledge will prepare you to approach conflicts systematically and effectively as a mediator.

Role Play: A Land Dispute Between Two Families in Kakamega County Over Ancestral Land Inheritance

To bring the concepts of this lesson to life, imagine the following scenario, drawn from the course handbook:

Background: In Kakamega County, a dispute has erupted over a 15-acre piece of ancestral land that has sustained the Omondi family for three generations. The conflict involves the grandchildren of the late Mzee Omondi, who had five sons, all now deceased. The land was never formally divided among the sons, leading to tension among their heirs.

Parties Involved:

• • Charles: The eldest son of Juma (Mzee Omondi’s firstborn). Charles claims exclusive ownership, arguing that his father managed the land for the family, making it his inheritance alone.

• • Mary: Representing the children of Mzee Omondi’s other four sons. Mary insists the land belongs to their grandfather and should be equally divided among all heirs, as all families have lived on and contributed to it for decades.

Task: As you progress through this lesson, think about how you would analyze this conflict. What are the underlying issues? How do the parties’ attitudes and behaviors shape the dispute? We’ll revisit this scenario at the end to apply what you’ve learned.

Course Content:

1. Definition of Conflict

Conflict is a natural part of human interaction, arising when individuals or groups perceive their goals, values, or interests as incompatible. The 40-Hour Mediation Course Handbook by Wambugu Njugu offers several perspectives on conflict:

• • Competitive Behavior: Conflict emerges when parties compete over limited resources or incompatible goals, such as land ownership in Kenya (Boulding, 1962).

• • Perception of Incompatibility: It’s a situation where parties believe their objectives clash, even if they don’t in reality (Kriesberg, 1988). For example, ethnic groups in Kenya may perceive resource distribution as unfair.

• • Dynamic Interaction: Conflict evolves through attitudes, behaviors, and structures, as seen in Kenya’s historical land disputes rooted in colonial policies (Galtung, 1969).

• • Diversity Framework: Conflict stems from human diversity in thoughts, values, and systems, a key factor in Kenya’s multicultural society (Weeks, 1994).

Summary Definition: “Conflict is a disagreement arising from diverse worldviews, values, or interests, perceived or actual, leading to interactions that may escalate into disputes or resolution” (Glasl, 1994).

Reflection Question: In the Kakamega land dispute, what incompatible goals do Charles and Mary perceive? How might their worldviews differ?

2. Stages of Conflict

Understanding how conflict develops is crucial for mediators. According to Moore (2014), conflict progresses through five stages:

1. Latent Conflict: Differences exist but are unexpressed. In the Omondi family, tensions over land ownership may have simmered for years.
2. Perceived Conflict: Parties recognize a potential disagreement. Charles and Mary might notice the lack of a formal land division as a problem.
3. Felt Conflict: Emotions like mistrust or anger emerge. Charles may feel entitled, while Mary feels cheated, intensifying the dispute.
4. Manifest Conflict: The conflict becomes overt through actions like arguments or legal claims. In Kenya, this could escalate to protests, as seen in the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
5. Conflict Resolution or Transformation: Efforts like mediation aim to resolve the issues. This is where you, as a mediator, step in.

Key Insight: Identifying the stage of a conflict helps you choose the right intervention. Early stages may need dialogue, while manifest stages might require structured mediation.

Reflection Question: At what stage do you think the Kakamega land dispute currently sits? Why?

3. Conflict Analysis Tools

To mediate effectively, you need tools to dissect a conflict’s components. Here are three key tools:

• Conflict Triangle (Galtung’s ABC Model):

• • • • Attitudes (A): Beliefs, emotions, and perceptions parties hold. In the Kakamega case, Charles might see himself as the rightful heir, while Mary feels all heirs deserve equality.
      • Behavior (B): Visible actions, like arguments or legal threats. Charles might refuse to share the land, while Mary rallies other heirs.
      • Contradictions (C): The core issues, such as competing claims to the land. This tool shows how attitudes and behaviors feed into the root problem.
      • Application: Address all three elements—build trust (A), guide constructive actions (B), and resolve the core issue (C)—for a holistic solution.

• • Conflict Wheel: Highlights six dimensions: dynamics, actors, causation, structures, issues, and options/strategies. For the Omondi dispute, actors include Charles and Mary, causation might trace to unclear inheritance, and options could include mediation or court.

• • Conflict Tree: Visualizes causes (roots), issues (trunk), and effects (branches). For the land dispute:
    • • Roots: Historical lack of land division.
      • Trunk: Dispute over ownership.
      • Branches: Family division, emotional distress.

Practice Exercise: Using the Conflict Triangle, analyze the Kakamega dispute. What attitudes, behaviours, and contradictions do you identify?

4. Common Conflicts in Kenya

Kenya’s diverse socio-economic and political landscape breeds various conflicts, many of which you’ll encounter as a mediator:

• • Land and Resource Conflicts: Rooted in historical grievances and worsened by population growth and climate change. The Kakamega case is a classic example.

• • Workplace and Industrial Disputes: Often about wages or conditions in Kenya’s growing sectors.

• • Family and Domestic Disputes: Inheritance (like the Omondi case) and custody issues are frequent.

• • Political and Ethnic Tensions: Electoral disputes and ethnic rivalries, such as those during election cycles.

• • Environmental Conflicts: Disputes over resources like water in arid regions.

Relevance: Recognizing these patterns helps you anticipate conflict dynamics and tailor your mediation approach.

Reflection Question: How does the Kakamega land dispute fit into these common conflict types? Could it escalate into a broader issue?

Applying the Lesson to the Role Play

Let’s revisit the Kakamega land dispute:

• • Definition: Charles and Mary’s disagreement stems from differing values (entitlement vs. equality) and interests (exclusive vs. shared ownership).

• • Stage: Likely at the “manifest” stage—overt claims and tension are clear, though it could still be “felt” if no legal action has started.

• • Analysis with Conflict Triangle:
    • • Attitudes: Charles feels superior as Juma’s heir; Mary feels entitled to fairness.
      • Behavior: Charles asserts control; Mary organizes opposition.
      • Contradictions: The core issue is who owns the land—exclusive or shared rights.

• • Common Conflict: This is a family and land dispute, typical in Kenya due to unclear succession.

Your Role as Mediator: You’d start by uncovering these elements, fostering trust, and guiding the parties toward a resolution that addresses the contradiction (e.g., dividing the land or agreeing on joint use).