Prof. Dr. Cathal Brugha,
University College Dublin, Ireland
A META-SYSTEM FOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The nomology, the science of the laws of the mind is used, providing frameworks based on four embedded layers that explain how people come into conflict. A decision science approach is used to structuring qualitative decisions, to put Drama Theory, and Confrontation and Collaboration Analysis, into a framework based on a succession of dichotomies, whether to use direct or indirect action, combine to form General Political Adjustment Activities, which have corresponding dilemmas: Collaboration (Harmony), Cooperation (Agreement), Confrontation (Persuasion) and Conflict (Escalation). The third dichotomy is based on whether to use a more personal approach generates eight Principal Political Adjustment Activities along with corresponding Dilemmas: Unilateralism (Backlash), Negotiation (Recognition), Credibility (Awareness), Trust (Renege), Inducement (Rejection), Deterrence (Incitement), Positioning (Vulnerabilty), and Threat (Weakness). Of these, Unilateralism and Negotiation are new to Drama Theory. Also, most of the dilemmas are named here for the first time. The person involved in a conflict resolution process should try to draw the conflicted person out ‚anger‘ to ‚avoid more violence‘ , from ‚grief‘ to ‚show respect‘, from ‚fear‘ to ‚improve conditions‘, from ‚shock‘ to ‚include all parties‘, from feeling the sense of ‚atrocity‘ to ‚encourage civil society‘, from ‚retaliation‘ to ‚consult/train/counsel‘, from ‚revenge‘ to ‚bridge-building‘, from ‚bitterness‘ to ‚truth and reconcilation‘.
