Understanding Social Conflicts

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Understanding Social Conflicts
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Overview of Framing Theory

• How individuals come to understand, characterize,
  and act upon their interpretations of a
  particular social conflict or dispute. This
  includes
• - process we use to interpret whats at
  stake- how we organize our knowledge about the
  world
• - how we use this knowledge to make sense of
  new information, events, or experiences

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Theory continued

• Frames are collections of perceptions and
  thoughts (our assumptions based upon prior
  knowledge/experience).
• We apply these to determine what is important and
  what is not.

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Theory continued

• We often frame complex issues to simply them.
• This may lead us to ignore whatever doesnt fit
  within our frame.
• This process is often unintentional and
  unconscious.

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Theory continued

• By learning about framing, we become more
  conscious and able to engage in a meaningful way
  with conflict resolution.

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Types of Frames Identity Frame (Who am I)

• Group identityExample prayer in schools
  (conflict)
• Social role identityExample soldier in Iraq
  (conflict)
• Place-based identityExample land use initiative
  (conflict)

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Types of Frames Characterization (Who are they?)

• How we respond to others heavily influenced by
  personal experience with them
• Example water quality dispute (conflict)resident
  s (us) vs. chemical plant (them)chemical plant
  (us) vs. residents (them)
• Negative characterizations create divisions and
  allegiances lead to group think

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Types of Frames Risk

• How we come to evaluate and respond to the
  potential risks associated with a given policy
  decision.
• Laypeople and experts often conflict on levels of
  risk.
• Regardless of scientific assessment. We tend to
  judge risks more harshly when they- are
  voluntary (i.e. you move near a chemical plant)-
  inequitable (more pollution in one area than
  another)- potentially catastrophic- not well
  understood

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Types of Frames Views of Nature

• Turn on the following questionsShould the
  environment be used for human benefit?Should
  the environment be protected?
• Can the environment regenerate itself?

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Types of Frames Fact Frames

• Facts do not speak for themselves they require
  presentation and interpretation.
• Fact frames can be divided into two categories
  - information producers (experts) - information
  users (all others)

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Conflict Resolution

• To resolve conflicts, we need to understand how
  we tend to frame the issue
• Next, consider challenging our assumptions with
  this frame
• Consider how others frame the conflict
• Seek common ground

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Example from reading Worlds Apart

• Problem inequality exists
• Question how much inequality is necessary?
• Answer conservative thesisInequality is a part
  of the natural or divine order of things.
• Answer radical antithesisEquality is the
  natural or divine order of things.

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Who has a stake in this argument?

• Group Identity and Social Role Frames
• Conservative thesis rulers
• Radical antithesis ruled

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Social Contract (resolution)

• Power (political authority) comes from the
  governed not from divine right.
• Documents of reform- Declaration of
  Independence- US Constitutionand- Adam Smiths
  Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth
  of Nations

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Smiths assertion

• Instead of the authoritarian economic rule of
  kings, an invisible hand of the market place
  (unfettered trade/commerce) would organize
  society.
• 21st Century Criticism despite the success of
  markets, they are increasingly controlled by
  concentrated power held by corporate monopolies.

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Borah Symposium Resource Wars

• All events SUB Ballroom at 7 p.m.
• Monday, March 27
• Oil and Water Conflict over Resources
• Tuesday, March 28Recognition of Responsibility
  Cooperation or Conflict
• Wednesday, March 29Collapse How societies
  choose to fail or succeed