Conflict Analysis
Conflict analysis is a comprehensive look at all aspects of a particular conflict. The purpose
of doing a conflict analysis is for the mediator to get the "big picture" and to understand the
dynamics of the conflict. A mediator than uses the information gathered in the conflict analysis to
assist the parties in moving toward settlement.
To do a conflict analysis, a mediator must gather much information from both parties. This
is usually done in the interview stage, before the parties come to the table. By the time the parties
reach the table, the mediator should have pretty good idea of the different components to the
conflict.
Data collection is usually done through the use of open-ended questions, that is questions
which do not have a yes or no answer. By asking open-ended questions, a mediator allows the
party to relate everything he or she thinks is important, rather than simply answering yes or no.
Examples of open-ended questions are:
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"Tell me about the problems you are having with your roommate"
"How do you feel about the situation?"
"What do you think are some possible resolutions?"
Parts of a Conflict Analysis
The Parties
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Who are the parties to the conflict?
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Are there any other people who are not parties but should be (i.e. have a stake in the
outcome, or have power to affect the outcome)?
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Do the parties have settlement authority? If not, who does?
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Do the parties have constituencies? If so, who? What is the relationship between the
parties and their constituencies?
Issues
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What are the issues as stated by each party?
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Are there hidden issues which are not stated by the parties?
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How have the issues been framed by the parties? Are they mutually exclusive, do they
appear to be mediable, can they be phrased a different way?
Positions
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What are the parties stated positions?
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Why do they hold those positions?
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How strongly are they committed to their positions?
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Is there room for movement in their positions? What will it take to move the parties off their
positions?
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If the parties are strongly committed to their positions, why? What is important to the parties
about their positions?
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Interests
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What are the interests behind each parties' positions?
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How are the parties' interests different? How are they similar?
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What common interests can be identified as the basis for settlement or agreement?
Power
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What power does each party have over the other?
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What is the source of each party's power? (relationship, economic, physical, psychological,
legal)
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What does the less powerful party need to have more leverage?
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Is each parties' perception of their own power realistic?
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Have the parties used their power against each other? If so, how and with what results?
Psychological Aspects
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What emotions is each party expressing? What is the intensity of those emotions?
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Are there hidden emotions that need to be expressed?
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What is the impact of the parties' emotions on their ability to negotiate?
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Are there values involved in the conflict? If so, what are they? How are they affecting the
conflict?
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Can the values be reframed into interests?
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Are there cultural, religious or ideological differences between the parties? If so, what are
they?
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What perceptions do the parties have of each other?
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Are these perceptions realistic?
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Are the parties perceiving the conflict in the same way? Are their perceptions of the conflict
realistic?
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Do the parties understand the limitations of each other's settlement authority?
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Do the parties trust each other? If not, why not?
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What is the level of trust between the parties?
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How do the parties communicate?
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What is their history of conflict? of communication?
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What is each parties' motivation to mediate?
Alternatives to Settlement
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What is each party's: BATNA, WATNA, MLATNA?
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Are the parties informed about their alternatives?
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Are the parties misinformed about their alternatives?
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What steps have the parties taken toward these alternatives?
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Are the parties aware of each other's alternatives?
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How realistic are the parties about their alternatives?
Options for Settlement
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What options have been explored in the past? What was the result?
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What are possible outcomes to the conflict?
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How realistic is each outcome?
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Do the available options meet the parties needs?
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How realistic are the parties about settlement options?
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Are there options that one party will not consider? If so, why?
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Does any party feel there are no options that will satisfy their interests? If so, why?
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Conflict Analysis
Parties
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Issues
Positions
Interests
Power
Psychologi
cal Aspects
Alternatives
to
Settlement
Options for
Settlement