A Chinese Model of Constructive Conflict Management

Abstract

A wealth of studies have investigated the influence of collectivism vs individualism value tendency on conflict management, and most of the studies of Chinese conflict management have shown that the Chinese tend to use avoidance strategy. Given the belief and findings of previous studies that conflict avoidance does not lead to a constructive result, we pose the question whether the Chinese can manage conflict constructively in this chapter. Reviewing a mass of literature on conflict and collectivism, conflict and Chinese values, and some studies on the antecedents of cooperative conflict management among Chinese participants, we propose a model of constructive conflict management with the Chinese. We find that, first, it is helpful to adopt West-based theories on conflict. Second, traditional Chinese values are pivotal to understanding conflict with the Chinese, and more modern values, such as communist ideologies should also be taken into consideration. Finally, a distinction should be made between the value dimension and the utilitarian dimension of harmony, to be cooperative and open in conflict management conforms with the value of harmony. Hence, the Chinese can deal with conflict constructively when certain values are respected and certain conditions are in place.