"Conflict analysis or conflict assessment, a concept within peace and conflict studies, is an initial stage of conflict resolution in which parties seek to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics in their relationship."
A systematic approach to understanding the root causes, dynamics, and actors of a conflict in order to design an effective peacekeeping intervention.
Causes of conflict: This involves analyzing the various factors that contribute to conflicts such as economic, political, social, and cultural factors.
Conflict resolution and mediation: This pertains to the various methods and techniques that are useful in resolving or managing conflicts including negotiation, dialogue, arbitration, and mediation.
Peacekeeping operations: This involves a thorough understanding of the different types of peacekeeping missions, their objectives, and the various roles played by different actors such as the UN, NGOs, and the military.
International humanitarian law: This involves a comprehensive understanding of the laws and principles that govern humanitarian interventions and the protection of civilians and other vulnerable groups.
Post-conflict reconstruction and development: This pertains to the various processes and strategies that are implemented to rebuild communities and promote sustainable development in the aftermath of a conflict.
Conflict analysis methodologies: This involves the different methods and tools used to analyze conflicts and their key features such as actors, issues, and dynamics.
Gender and conflict: This pertains to the gendered dynamics of conflict, the impact of conflict on gender relations, and the role of women in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Human rights and conflict: This involves an understanding of the ways in which conflicts often result in human rights violations, the role of human rights in conflict resolution, and the relationship between human rights and peace.
Economic dimensions of conflict: This pertains to the ways in which economic factors such as poverty, inequality, and competition for resources contribute to conflicts, and the role of economic interventions in conflict resolution.
Cross-cultural communication and conflict: This involves an appreciation of the ways in which cultural differences can contribute to conflict, and the importance of effective communication and understanding in reducing tensions between different groups.
Root cause analysis: Examines the underlying causes of conflict, including historical, social, economic, and political factors, to identify the triggers and enduring drivers of violence.
Stakeholder analysis: Identifies the key actors engaged in a conflict, their interests, power dynamics, and the relationships between them. It provides insights into the opportunities and constraints for peacebuilding interventions.
Context analysis: Looks at the broader context in which conflict occurs, including the social, cultural, and environmental factors. It helps to identify potential risks that may fuel violence or hinder peacebuilding efforts.
Conflict mapping: Involves visualizing the various dimensions of the conflict, including the actors, issues, and locations of violent incidents. It helps to identify patterns and trends that inform intervention strategies.
Actor mapping: Focuses on the actors' identities and their political, social, and economic positions in a conflict. It helps to identify their relationships, agendas, and potential roles in peacebuilding efforts.
Gender analysis: Examines the gender-based dynamics of conflict, including the roles and experiences of women, men, girls, and boys during and after the violence. It helps to ensure that gender-specific concerns are addressed in peacebuilding programs.
Conflict sensitivity analysis: Assesses the potential impact of peacebuilding interventions on conflict dynamics, including unintended consequences, such as exacerbating tensions or intensifying violence.
Risk analysis: Identifies risks associated with peacebuilding operations, including security, political, operational, and social risks. It helps to plan proactive and adaptive risk management strategies.
Early warning analysis: Involves monitoring and analyzing indicators of potential conflict escalation to anticipate, prevent, or mitigate violent outbreaks.
Impact evaluation: Assesses the effectiveness of peacebuilding interventions in achieving their goals and objectives, including their socio-economic, political, and cultural impacts on individuals and communities affected by the conflict.
"When there is a disagreement in the methods used to achieve an end result, and there is a disparity between a unified vision and direction, opposing sides are subject to conflict."
"If these sides consistently misinterpret one another, a problematic situation can spiral out of control rapidly."
"Members of multiple organizational levels with varying statuses can all partake in conflict."
"Many schools, such as Eastern Mennonite University's Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, George Mason University, Nova Southeastern University, University of the Rockies, and Wayne State University have programs related to conflict analysis and resolution."
"There are also various subsets of conflict analysis such as environmental conflict analysis, which deal with specific types of disputes."
"In certain occasions, a conflict atlas is used to show graphically the analysis of the conflict."
"The prefixes macro- and micro- are used in conjunctions with conflicts to denote the scale of the conflict, macro referring to a larger scale conflict and micro referring to a conflicting situation on a smaller scale."
"Conflicts can arise at different levels, from intrapersonal to interpersonal issues as well as between two individuals or between two countries as a whole."
"When a result is the change in the status quo, that conflict is now referred to as a revolution."