Conflict Class 101: Understanding Conflict

It usually takes one by surprise when experts say conflict is good and positive. But yes, conflict that is identified early, effectively dialogued and resolved amicably often leads to positive change and progress. Now conflict experts, define it as a struggle or contest between people with opposing needs, ideas, beliefs, values, or goals. All experts agree that conflict is inevitable in every society so long as there are opposing needs and competing ambitions. However it is the responses that individuals and groups make to such conflicting needs, ambitions or values that determine the course they take- and we go back to the fact of its being positive. So if actors or those involved in conflicts act positively by discussing and resolving their problems the results will be peace and progress. If on the other hand actors behave negatively, the conflict escalates and leads to nonproductive results.  Therefore, learning to identify, prevent or manage conflict is integral to every society and a must for everyone.

. The broad causes of conflict have been categorized into three forms.

#1.          OVER PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS:

These are conflicts which cannot be seen but affect the psyche of the individual and his/her productive capacity. These are Conflicts which keeps occurring everyday, where individuals encounter at least two or three either at home, work or at social outings.  Issues that concerns meeting basic needs of food, housing, security, love and others. Certainly in the search of these daily needs individual conflicts do occur. For instance in the search for food, water and shelter and even love, there is often conflict as another person may want the same thing you want. Other times one’s inability to meet one or more of these basic daily needs can fuel or facilitate the escalation of other types of conflicts, for example as the saying goes “a hungry man is an angry man”. Imagine then getting into a conflict with a hungry and angry man!

#2.          OVER RESOURCES:

This occurs when two or more people want the same resources and there is not enough to go round. Resources here can refer to money, land, political positions etc. People must certainly struggle to gain access to such things since they are scarce. Money is scarce and there are millions if not of billons in search of it, land is also scarce and so is political positions such as office of the President, Governors and local government chairmen where there are only one per country, one per state and one per local government respectively. These days in Nigeria there is a heightening of struggle over political positions with the approach of the 2015 elections.

#3.          OVER VALUES:

Values are the most difficult to understand and resolve, they are based on belief system and world view. They cannot be seen or felt, often stored in the brains and hearts of people. Yet they are held so dearly and sincerely.  Most times people could die easily for what they believe in such as their ideology, religion or culture.

It is therefore our collective responsibility to understand conflict in order to make it work for us not against us.