Conflict Management Research Articles

Social Group Interventions to Increase Resilience and Stress Resistance in an Era of Increasing Adversity

ABSTRACT As natural disasters and social conflicts become more widespread due to climate worsening and migration, responses will need to change from intervening with individuals to preparing groups, organizations, and communities for adversity. This paper identifies key social-environmental factors that can be addressed to promote resilience in groups and populations. Ideas for intervening with groups are put forth. Key strategies for group intervention include the selection of social environments and their modification by increasing their positive aspects, strengthening support for coping skills, encouraging the setting of explicit organizational goals related to mental wellbeing, improving group problem-solving and conflict management skills, and strengthening capacity to resist erosion of group functioning in the face of disaster and social conflict. Attention is drawn to the potential impact of working with particular organizational settings, including first-responder and other emergency aid workforces, community-based religious organizations (and similar secular organizations), and online social environments. The argument is made that group and organizational interventions should be implemented proactively, before exposure to trauma and adversity, to prepare groups and their members to respond to forthcoming adversities in ways that maintain and strengthen functioning and wellbeing. Development of an extended conceptual framework that focuses more systematically on the influence of groups and social environments on perception and performance in the face of disaster, social conflicts, and other forms of adversity is required, along with development of a range of group interventions that, delivered at scale, might achieve population-level effects.

Moral competence and conflict management styles in emergency nurses: a cross-sectional study

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the moral competence and conflict management styles in emergency nurses Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among emergency department nurses. Convenience sampling was employed. The data collection tools comprised a demographic-occupational questionnaire, a questionnaire assessing the moral competence of clinical nurses, and another questionnaire focused on exploring conflict management styles. Results: 190 emergency department nurses were involved in this study. The study revealed that emergency department nurses’ average moral competence score was 159.81 (SD = 13.00), ranging from 121 to 184 points. Among emergency department nurses, the average score for conflict management styles stood at 105.61 (SD = 10.67), ranging from 41 to 132 points. The study findings revealed statistically significant associations between several factors and nurses’ overall moral competence score; age group (P = 0.004) and type of employment (P = 0.035) showed substantial relationships. Significant associations emerged between the overall conflict management score, job position (P = 0.021), and age group (P = 0.044). Conclusion: Emergency nurses demonstrated a commendable average score in moral competence and predominantly utilized conflict management styles over participation styles when handling conflicts. A robust and direct correlation between ethical competence and conflict management was also observed.

Diagnosing conflict in clerkship: insights from medical students’ experiences

IntroductionConflict is an inevitable part of clinical training and often arises from differences in opinions or misunderstandings. Most studies around healthcare conflict focus on perspectives of physicians and nurses, overlooking...

Conflict Resolution Strategies for School Leaders

Conflict is an inevitable part of educational settings, often arising from diverse perspectives, systemic structures, interpersonal interactions, and organizational changes. For school leaders, effectively managing and resolving conflicts is essential to creating a respectful, collaborative, and thriving school culture. This paper investigates the role of school leaders in conflict resolution, focusing on communication strategies, leadership styles, and practical approaches to addressing disputes. It identifies key principles of conflict resolution, such as neutrality, empathy, and effective communication, as critical tools for conflict management. Additionally, the paper categorizes common types of conflicts in schools including student-student, organizational, and systemic conflicts and examines strategies like mediation, interest-based negotiation, and restorative practices. By implementing well-designed policies, training programs, and collaborative strategies, school leaders can mitigate conflicts, promote harmony, and foster an environment conducive to learning and growth. Keywords: Conflict resolution, school leadership, effective communication, mediation, interest-based negotiation, restorative practices.

The Role of Positive School Experiences and Trust in Teachers in Adolescents' Conflict Management Skills and Exposure to Bullying

ABSTRACTPrevious studies have reported a negative relationship between adolescents' conflict management skills and their exposure to bullying. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship have not yet been fully clarified. This study examines the role of positive school experiences and trust in teachers in this relationship. The research, conducted with a cross‐sectional design, included 543 adolescents aged 11–14. Of the participants, 314 were girls and 229 were boys, providing a balanced sample in terms of gender distribution. The data revealed significant relationships between conflict management skills, positive school experiences, trust in teachers, and exposure to bullying. Positive school experiences and trust in teachers were found to partially mediate this relationship, while exposure to bullying was negatively associated with these variables. The results were discussed in light of the existing literature, and recommendations were provided.

COMMUNITY BUILDING FOR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN BESOWO NATURE RESERVE

This research aims to analyze the potential conflict between farmers and stakeholders in Besowo Gadungan Nature Reserve and to develop conflict management strategies through a community building approach. The study employs a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data is collected through a survey using open ended questionnaires, while qualitative data is obtained through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). Purposive sampling ensures that informants meet relevant criteria. The findings indicate that the lack of communication and coordination between farmers and the reserve management is a significant factor triggering conflict. Differences in understanding regarding natural resource management and regulatory ambiguity also contribute to the situation. Respondents show positive support for the importance of building trust and transparent communication. The proposed community building strategy includes the formation of a sense of community by fostering unity and shared understanding among farmers and stakeholders, active involvement in decision-making, ongoing communication through regular meetings and dialogues, and the use of communication tools such as suggestion boxes or online platforms to facilitate idea exchange and complaints. In conclusion, the study underscores the crucial role of community building strategies in identifying, preventing, and managing potential conflicts. By understanding the root causes and implementing concrete steps to build communities, relations between farmers and stakeholders can be strengthened, creating a harmonious balance in natural resource utilization at Besowo Gadungan Nature Reserve. An inclusive and sustainable approach is expected to generate fair and lasting solutions, maintaining a balance between farmers needs and environmental preservation

Perbedaan Manajemen Konflik pada Atlet Taekwondo Laki-laki dan Perempuan di Provinsi DIY

This study aims to analyze the differences in conflict management between male and female taekwondo athletes in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). The research method used is a quantitative approach with a descriptive design. The sample consisted of 112 taekwondo athletes from various regencies/cities in DIY. Data were collected using a questionnaire that measured conflict management styles. The data were analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. The hypothesis test results show a highly significant difference in conflict management with a significance value of 0.000. The findings reveal that female taekwondo athletes have higher conflict management scores compared to male athletes, with a mean score of 70.40 for females and 63.02 for males. This indicates that female taekwondo athletes possess better conflict management styles than male taekwondo athletes.

Synthesizing the impact of armed conflicts on food security, livelihoods and social dynamics in Amhara region, Ethiopia

BackgroundArmed conflicts cause food insecurity and famine by triggering the disruption and destruction of food systems. The conflict that erupted in northern Ethiopia lasted from 2020 to 2022 and affected millions of people. This resulted in severe damage to the food security, livelihoods and social dynamics of communities in the Amhara region.ObjectiveThis study synthesized the impact of the conflict in northern Ethiopia on food security, livelihoods and social dynamics livelihoods in there zones, South Wello, North Wello and North Shewa zones of the Amhara Region. The conflict management response and the scope of humanitarian assistance are also analyzed.MethodsThe study used a qualitative case study design. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and observation. Data were collected from local authorities, representatives of displaced people, government and non-government officials who responded to the crisis and from the community members who were directly affected by the conflict. The primary data were supplemented by a review of reports from credible secondary sources. The research used thematic and narrative analysis techniques to synthesize the impact of armed conflicts on food security, livelihoods, and social dynamics in Amhara region, Ethiopia.ResultsOver 5.5 million people found to be affected by acute food insecurity and over half a million people were internally displaced due to the Northern conflict. The monetary value of the damage caused by the armed conflict is estimated at $500 million, due to the damage to basic services and the loss of 14 million quintals of agricultural production. The conflict has disrupted food systems by damaging agricultural infrastructure, causing market distortions and causing food shortages. Livelihoods were threatened by the loss of jobs and the destruction of private and municipal property. The destruction of the basic infrastructure such as health, water and sanitation, agriculture and market institutions inevitably have lasting negative impacts on the overall productivity of the community. Communities’ religious and traditional values, informal social networks ​​are affected by the impact of armed conflict, complicating communities’ reconstruction efforts.Conclusion and recommendationThe northern armed conflict has significant negative impacts on the food security, livelihoods and social dynamics of people in the Amhara region. Recognizing the multiple impacts of conflict livelihoods in the region is a critical step in developing effective responses. Government, non-governmental organizations, and community-based institutions should play a crucial role in building community resilience and support post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Future studies can capitalize on this qualitative finding and could design a large scale assessment using quantified data to further provide evidence on post-conflict reconstruction efforts.

The Mediating Effect of School Culture on the Relationship between Stress and Conflict Management Styles: Basin for Intervention Program

Abstract: This study investigated how school culture affects the relationship between stress levels and conflict management styles. The findings provide valuable information for establishing an intervention strategy in Region XI. The study used a quantitative research strategy, using correlational approaches for analysis. The sample included 400 teachers from Region XI. The data was collected using customized survey questions that were verified for content validity and reliability. The data were then evaluated using a variety of statistical approaches, including Mean, Pearson correlation coefficient, Multiple Regression Analysis, and Path analysis. The findings revealed a considerable reduction in stress levels, with conflict management styles scoring well. Furthermore, school culture was highly regarded. The study found strong connections among the variables, including clear links between stress levels, school culture, and conflict management styles. It also emphasized how school culture acts as a mediator in the relationship between stress and conflict management styles, providing insight into the process that connects stress levels to how disagreements are managed.

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Institutions evaluate different opposing views, conducts, and debates in decisions making. Tertiary institutions are characterized by bureaucracy and hierarchical structure of command, and therefore conflict exists in different aspects. This study investigates the effect of conflict management strategies on the organizational performance of selected public tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State, Nigeria (Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic Lafia, College of Education Akwanga and Nasarawa State University Keffi) using competing/dominating, accommodating and collaborating conflict management strategies. The study was anchored on human relation theory. A sample size of 348 academic staff were selected across the three tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State using Taro Yamane sample size determination. The responses of the respondents were placed on a five-point Likert scale. The study employed the recent Partial Least Square -Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) in the analysis of the data. The study revealed that all the conflict management strategies studied namely dominating, accommodating and collaborating were found to have significant positive relationship with organizational performance. The study concludes that conflict management has significant positive relationship with organizational performance in selected public tertiary institution in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The study recommends that management of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, Nasarawa state in particular should be more accommodating, competing and collaborating in decision-making so as to enhance stakeholder participation in conflict management.

Conflicts of interest in the International Agency for Research on Cancer process of identifying carcinogenic hazards to humans.

Managing conflicts of interest (COIs) in scientific decision-making is important for minimizing bias and fostering public trust in science. Proper management of COIs has added significance when scientists are making decisions that impact public policy, such as assessing substances for carcinogenicity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) organizes expert working groups to identify putative carcinogens and determine whether or not the hazard is likely to present significant potential harm to humans. While IARC has policies for managing COIs, prior professional experience with the substance being assessed is not defined as a COI. Indeed, IARC working group members are chosen based on subject matter expertise, including prior publication on the substance under review. However, a person's prior experience with a substance poses a significant potential COI by equipping them with strong pre-existing views about the substance's toxicity and carcinogenicity. To minimize the risk of bias in IARC working groups, participants with voting powers should be independent scientific experts with sufficient professional experience to review carcinogenicity data but with no substantial prior experience with the substance under review. A related IARC practice restricting data review by working groups to selected publications is another significant COI. Instead, all accessible data should be available for consideration by working groups in assessing the carcinogenic hazard of substances. Another recommendation to reduce potential bias would be to reinstate the option of "probably not carcinogenic to humans".

Marital Resilience factors that enhance Conflict Management in Black African Marriages in South Africa: An Afro-Centric Perspective

Despite the stressful conditions and difficulties that bring about habitual conflict in many Black African marriages, some couples choose to manage their conflict and remain married, even in the context of the divorce culture. It is important to determine the potential factors that impact marital resilience in the midst of difficulties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore resilience factors that enhance conflict management in Black African marriages in South Africa. A phenomenological research design was adopted using a qualitative research approach. Forty participants, consisting of 20 married men and 20 married women, were purposively selected to participate in this study. Data was collected using semi-structured individual and focus group interviews which were also audio-recorded. Following recordings, the interviews were transcribed. The data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The findings of this study demonstrated that, of all the techniques employed to handle marital crises, effective communication was the most widely favoured. Leaving things alone by opting to remain silent, being humble, and pastoral counselling were also found to be effective tactics. The findings of this study may be useful in therapeutic work with couples. The factors that participants identified as vital in contributing towards their marital resilience may be helpful to add to the understanding of marital resilience and may be used to develop a strengths-based intervention program for couples in marital crisis. Keywords: Marital Resilience, Marital Crisis, Conflict Management, Marriage, Divorce.

Improving Interactions Around Student Concerns with Faculty

A new article proposes the benefits of medical school leaders supporting more positive interactions around student concerns about faculty and offers suggestions that are applicable in all higher education contexts. Dr. John A. Rankin, a professor in the University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, argues that medical school administrators have an “opportunity to teach students to voice these concerns productively … and thereby to teach critical conflict management skills that will serve students throughout their careers.”

Culture and Conflict Management Strategy: The Mediating Role of Instrumental Concerns

Culture and Conflict Management Strategy: The Mediating Role of Instrumental Concerns

The role of gender in the professional practice of mediation: the picture through the eyes of Italian mediators

ABSTRACT In Italy, community interpreting and public service interpreting are often subsumed under the label of mediazione (“mediation”). In official documents, mediazione appears to be a form of conflict management, heavily dependent on the empathy and trust stemming from a shared language, culture, country of origin, age, and gender between mediators and migrants. Informed by gender and queer studies, this article aims at investigating the role of the gender dimension in building such empathy and trust, particularly when mediating for survivors of gender violence, through interviews with women working as professional mediators in Italian women’s centres and associations. The analysis of responses reveals that interviewees are acutely aware of the importance of gender issues when mediating for survivors of gender violence, and that they perceive a need for specific training in this field, which, however, seems to be lacking.

Individual and classroom-level associations of within classroom friendships, friendship quality and a sense of peer community on bullying victimization

For most students, attending school entails daily intense social interactions with classmates in a classroom context. While many of these interactions are positive and lead to the development of friendships and a shared classroom community, some students instead suffer peer harassment and bullying. According to the social-ecological theory these disparate social phenomena may be linked. The aim of this study was to examine how number of friends, perceived friendship quality, and a sense of peer community were associated with bullying victimization at both the individual and classroom level. Additionally, to thoroughly investigate the nuances of different types of friendship qualities the concept was analyzed both as one unified construct and as five distinct dimensions (companionship, conflict, help, security, and closeness). Survey data from 587 Swedish upper elementary school students (56.22% girls; Mage = 11.72, SD = 0.96) across 54 classrooms was collected and analyzed using multilevel regression. Results showed that having at least one friend was negatively associated with victimization and that victimization was less prevalent in classrooms where students experienced a shared sense of community. Furthermore, while high-quality friendships were associated with less victimization at both the individual and classroom level, when the five dimensions where considered, only conflictual and helpful friendships were significantly associated with victimization (on both levels of analysis for conflictual friendships and only on the individual level for helpful friendships). Together these results highlights the importance of schools helping students cultivate high-quality friendships, teaching constructive conflict management and promoting a more prosocial classroom community.

Dangerous Development: The Effect of Offshore Fossil-Fuel Discovery and Production on Maritime Diplomatic Conflict

How does the discovery and production of offshore fossil-fuel resources influence maritime diplomatic conflict occurrence? Extant studies focus on the management and escalation of militarized interstate maritime conflicts after development leaving a gap in the literature on the effect of potential offshore resources on maritime claim occurrence. I argue that the years after the discovery of offshore fossil-fuel deposits face an increased risk for maritime claim occurrence because of an increase in tangible salience, opportunities to obtain concessions, and uncertainty over resource abundance. In the period after production begins, there is less uncertainty over the resource abundance, but the increased tangible salience and incentives to secure the resources remain, causing there to be a higher risk for maritime diplomatic conflict, albeit lower than the discovery period. Using Issue Correlates of War (ICOW) and PRIO-Grid data, I find that maritime dyads are more likely to experience a maritime claim in the years after the discovery of offshore oil compared to dyad-years with no offshore fossil-fuel discoveries. Offshore fossil fuel’s effect on maritime claim occurrence is stronger in this discovery phase than it is in the production period, indicating distinct mechanisms at work.

Proposed Family Business Leadership Transition Strategy At Pt Sma

Effective leadership transitions are critical to the continuity and stability of family businesses, especially during generational shifts, which often bring significant challenges in conflict management. PT SMA, a family-owned food manufacturer, recently experienced a leadership change from the founder to a younger, less experienced leader. This transition caused conflict among stakeholders due to inadequate succession planning and differing perspectives across generations. This study examines strategies to address these conflicts and challenges at PT SMA. Key conflict points identified during leadership transitions include adjustments in leadership style and strategic vision, which can have a negative impact on organizational performance. This study proposes a structured approach to effective conflict management, emphasizing the development of a clear succession plan, facilitating conflict resolution, aligning organizational culture, and effective change management. By implementing these strategies, PT SMA aims to achieve a smoother transition, minimize conflict, and promote organizational stability. The findings will provide valuable insights for PT SMA and similar family businesses on the success of transition management and its impact on continued success. This study highlights the need to address challenges such as employee turnover and strategic disagreements, which can lead to dissatisfaction among long-term employees. Ultimately, effective conflict management is critical for new leaders to navigate these challenges and ensure a successful leadership transition. focus and advise on effective change management.

Introduction: League of Nations and United Nations interventions in post-imperial crises and conflicts

The introduction places the essays in this special issue in the context of recent studies by social scientists and historians on foreign interventions, international conflict management, and global governance. It defines the key terms used in the case studies and discusses the various dimensions of what constitutes “success” in foreign interventions carried out by international organizations in post-imperial/post-colonial contexts. The introduction then assesses the seven case studies examined in the five essays in this special issue. These span the period from the early 1920s to the late 1970s, cover parts of Europe, the Middle East, central Africa, and Asia, and range from financial reconstruction and fundamental education programmes to refugee resettlement, peacekeeping, and military intervention. Despite the large variety of historical contexts and forms of intervention, the introduction identifies several common challenges that League of Nations and United Nations officials faced as they sought to influence the outcome of a domestic crisis or conflict. These challenges include not only practical issues such as lack of local knowledge or budgetary constraints, but also the persistence of patronizing attitudes, secrecy, competition with other external interveners, and, crucially, a mismatch between the interests of the international interveners and the populations affected. The introduction then assesses the main strategies the League of Nations and United Nations interveners used to overcome these challenges. It demonstrates that they frequently overstepped their mandates, ventured into legal grey zones, adopted covert strategies of intervention, or avoided meaningful action while settling on safer and allegedly apolitical and “impartial” humanitarian aid. The final section discusses the mixed historical record of foreign interventions and international conflict management and the severe risks both of failure and of inaction. It concludes by offering some tentative historical “lessons” or reflection points that may stimulate current debates among social scientists and practitioners working in international organizations.

Military Ad Hoc Coalitions and Their Role in International Conflict Management: Insights from the ADHOCISM Dataset

ABSTRACT Against the background of a crisis of United Nations (UN) peace operations, military ad hoc coalitions (AHCs) have increasingly gained a foothold as conflict management tools. This article provides the first comprehensive empirical mapping of military AHCs, focusing on the following questions: how have military AHCs evolved over time, where have they been deployed, who are the most active contributors, and how do AHCs interact and compare with other military conflict management initiatives? We do so by introducing and analysing an original dataset encompassing 58 different military AHCs since 1945. We map attributes of temporality, membership, organizational structure, geographical orientation and mandate, and show that military AHCs are not a new phenomenon, but that their composition and use have changed considerably over time. The ADHOCISM dataset makes comparative analysis possible among military AHCs, but also between them and other types of arrangements, such as UN peace operations or operations implemented by regional organizations. It offers much-needed data for scholars who wish to understand how the field of international conflict management is changing amidst a crisis of multilateralism and what role AHCs can perform in parallel with, or in replacement of UN peace operations.