Reflecting Backward and Looking Forward

Abstract

Abstract The first chapter points out the collective goals widely shared by and for the people of the United States, including liberty and justice for all. Additionally, seven core ideas of the constructive conflict approach are identified: (1) Many conflicts are largely waged constructively within legitimate, institutionalized political and legal institutions. (2) Importantly, constructive conflicts are generally conducted using blends of persuasion, positive sanctions, and some coercion, minimizing violence. (3) Opposing parties in constructive social conflicts recognize that each consists of shifting components. (4) Adversaries in a conflict define their conflict, which can be constructively reframed and thus transformed. (5) A constructive approach generally entails opponents noticing and considering each other’s concerns, which can yield some mutual benefits. (6) Constructive fighters attend to the great interconnections of conflicts. (7) Adversaries in constructive conflicts recognize that conflicts are not static and can be transformed. Finally, this chapter sets out the design of the sequence of the book’s remaining chapters.