What Ever Happened to "Conflict Resolution"


I've heard conflict resolution, it goes under other names also, is still used thousands of times a year for certain kinds of disputes. In that way it contributes to our society. Mostly, it is about reducing the "us against them" and replacing it with each party making an effort to see thinks from the other's point of view. I've had friends who benefited from it. It's originator began by asking to be the attorney for both parties in divorces. That, instead of each one getting his/her own lawyer and portraying the other as wrong.

At least a couple of times when I was a Mayor, I was contacted by people who specialized in conflict management or conflict resolution. They wanted to help resolved conflicts between and among those of us who were elected to the governing body of Fargo, ND. It is called a City Commission rather than a City Council.  There are only five member all elected at large.

I was reminded of all this when I read the experience of the originator of conflict resolution who now lives in a small California town. He has spent his adult life traveling the world teaching people how to use Conflict Resolution to move people forward instead of stalled in disagreement. The link is about what he experienced when he went from world-wide guru to local elected official. He failed at managing the conflicts in his little town. 

I find it humorous he or anyone would think Conflict Resolution would work in politics. I chuckled then thanked those who suggested it when I was a Mayor. Those trained so solve conflicts between parties do not understand how politics work. It works by starting conflicts not resolving them. There may be exceptions but I don't happen to know of any. 

Bush I was example. He ran as a low tax guy. When he got in he realized there was not enough federal money to do what he thought needed to be done so he made a compromise with democrats to raise taxes. His political roof caved in. His people wanted conflict, not Conflict Resolution.

When I was a Mayor in the1980's I issued a Lesbian and Gay Appreciation Proclamation. It created conflict. I suppose I could have visited for long periods with other elected people, especially deep Christians, and tried to negotiate some compromise language. I had made a calculation they would never agree to any such thing so why bother. Better to force a conflict. Later the two main antagonists  both ran against me for Mayor and lost. Creating a conflict probably helped me.

Trump, of course, used conflict as a political tool. Biden talks of turning down the level of conflicts. He is an experienced and wily guy and really I don't expect him to dial down conflict at all.


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