Goopio, Kim A.

LLB-2
EH 403

Journal: Conflict Sensitivity and Creative Conflict

Transformation

We had an opportunity to meet with Mr. Cesar

Villanueva1 to talk about the Conflict Sensitivity and Creative
Conflict Transformation. On the first day, the flow of the
program basically revolves on co-understanding conflict and
conflict escalation to violence. On the second day, we
conducted various group works for the application and
synthesis of conflict analysis tools for better understanding.

Understanding Conflict

Mr. Villanueva asked us to think about a dialect that is

synonymous with conflict. Most of us believed that conflict is
an event in life that partakes the nature of negativity since
us, most of the times, we equate it with arguments, war,
serious disagreements, physical and verbal violence, chaos,
clash of ideas, opinion and personalities and all the likes.

How conflicts are handled nowadays? Well it depends on

ones understanding what conflict really is. In legal
profession, Mr. Villanueva gave as an important realization of
how legal practitioners, mostly deal with conflict, lawyers
are said to have won many cases but not conflicts. Then,
we asked ourselves what conflict really is.

1 Cesar is the Director for Popular Peace Education at Pax Christi Institute and
a part-time faculty teaching creative conflict transformation and
reconciliation at the Graduate school at the University of St. La Salle in
Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. He is a consultant on conflict
sensitivity using do no harm, conflict transformation, transformative
mediation, peacebuilding and reconciliation. His works on peace futures and
peace weaving have helped organizations and communities in the Philippines
build equitable and sustainable peace. He is the national convenor of
TRANSCEND Pilipinas, a peace, development and environment network
affiliated with Johan Galtung. https://www.wfsf.org/about-us/leadership-coreteam/83-director-futures-course-development-youth-council-mentor
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Goopio, Kim A.
LLB-2
EH 403
We have come to realize that conflict does not at all
times partake negativity, since conflict is an everyday
phenomena, it enables us to grow and develop by finding a
solution through creating new

realities in every conflict and not necessarily to compromise

about it nor to have a win-win, win-lose situation nor to
resort to any violent measures or counter-measures just to
insure our desired goals without considering the other party.
This does not resolve conflict at all.
Now this is what
transcendence of conflict is all about, it is more sustainable
and equitable. Conflict can be taken positively or negatively,
it depends on ones capability of dealing conflict. Being
conflict sensitive and resolving it using the transcend
approach, meaning using the use of non-violent measures
through understanding the entirety of conflict and not
merely an aspect of it, will result to peace which is
transformative, equitable and sustainable.

Perspectives in Conflict

We discussed about the different perspective of conflict

by Johan Galtung and John Paul Legarach.

Johan Galtung, in his book Theories of Conflict,

suggests that life is the pursuit of goals, social life is the
exchange of value and that which pursues values, and
exchanges values, is referred to as an actor. In the pursuit he
acts, and in the exchange he interacts; actors move along
their life-lines, dotted with goal-consumption, culminating in
goal-states. Occasionally the life-lines intersect: the actors
come together in space and time, become relevant to each
other and may engage in value-exchange or interaction;
positive, neutral, negative. And this is, of course,
where
conflict enters, although it can also be defined for one actor.
We can now define conflict, building on the notions of
contradiction and incompatibility developed in the general
goal-notions explored here. In the perspective of Galtung,
conflict is a process through which two or more parties try to
pursue an incompatible goal. He pertains party as anybody
who has a stake on the outcome of the conflict. In dealing
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Goopio, Kim A.
LLB-2
EH 403
with conflict, we address on pursuing such incompatible goal
(includes values and goals) and not about the incompatible
person.

Galtung introduces to us the ABC Triangle: Conflict has

been defined in terms of incompatibilities, of contradictions,
and that should not be confused with the attitudinal and
behavioral consequences of

conflict, often destructive. The model proposes that conflicts

has of three components: (1) attitudes, (2) behaviour and (3)
contradictions. As what I have understood from Mr.
Villanueva in relation to the ABC model, is that the notion of
conflict is identical with an iceberg, we merely see the
detectible aspects or the tip of what constitute conflict like
serious disagreements, physical and verbal violence and
hurtful comments and etc. We rarely see on what is really
beneath the surface of these behaviours, the root causes,
and its surrounding circumstances. Hence, it is really
important to be able to see and consider conflict on its
entirety, objectively and not merely on its detectable parts in
order to achieve a resolution that is sustainable and
effective.

In the tip of the triangle is marked B which represents

behaviour. It constitutes a reaction to a given conflict to
which is multifaceted due to many factors or elements that
influence it. The next corner of the triangle is A which
signifies attitude. It is an inquiry part which can be done
subjectively or objectively since it covers similar or different
presumptions on varying individuals towards issues in
conflict. It involves our assertion of perspectives, desires and
feelings. The last corners is C, signifies contradiction. It
deals with the specific issue on the reason why there is
conflicting or varying of desires. An example of which is that
of a system of governance, where one group of people may
strongly opposed to the decision of the government on the
manner of how to achieve peace and order in its country
without violating any laws and human rights. It is more on
the contradiction on the rules that is set by an authority in a
given community and one party alleged that such rules are
insufficient to meet the needs and wants of the community.
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Goopio, Kim A.
LLB-2
EH 403
Conflict can start in any of these corners, hence
addressing it can be done in any of these corners as well. In
resolving conflicts, with the use of this model, it must be
resolved directly on the core issue, together with the feelings
of the parties and the behaviour. As what Mr. Villanueva
pointed out, the core issue may be addressed, but leaving
behind the feelings and behaviour of the conflicting parties
may resurface new conflict causing more likely to escalate it
to violence.

On the other side, John Legarach provides a suppletory

perception of conflict vis--vis with Galtungs. In Legarachs
book,

Preparing for Peace: Conflict Transformation Across Culture,

he insists that conflict is socially constructed, meaning that
conflict does not just happen, it is created. Key in this
creation process are social knowledge, the meaning that
people attach to events and issues, and what,
correspondingly, is appropriate response and action to take.
In other words, according to Legarach and as discussed by
Mr. Villanueva, a conflict is a normal process and continuous
dynamic human relationship. It is more on acknowledgment
and appreciation of differences.

Conflict Analysis Tool

Mr. Villanueva introduced to us various tools in

analysing conflicts and one of it was the ABC Triangle of
Johan Galltung as discussed above. Other tools are staircase
model, onion layer model, conflict mapping, tree model and
pyramid model. On the first day we mainly delved into the
theoretical aspects of these models and on the second day
of the seminar, we applied it through group works.

Goopio, Kim A.
LLB-2
EH 403
Onion layer model is a method in determining the
positions, interests and needs of the parties involved in a
conflict. It is based upon the idea that conflict has its own
layers and the surface of which are only visible. Hence in
understanding conflict through this model, we need to peel
the layers to understand the position of the parties or the
stand of each parties in a conflict and determine what lies at
the core which is their interests which refers to the
motivation of the parties which created their respective
positions.

Tree model is a tool that likens conflict to a tree, the

trunk being the core problem, roots represent the causes,
and the branches pertain to the consequences.

Pyramid model helps in identifying individuals or

groups who have a stake in conflict. It determines and
describes the attributes of

key actors in every level and its interrelationship and

conflicts between these actors and the other parties
identified in other levels.

Conflict mapping visualizes the parties and their

respective degree of influence in relation to conflict and their
relationship with other parties. It is more on understanding
the interrelationships of the concerned parties that are
represented by lines and the actors are represented by any
shape and size.

We had an activity in relation to Staircase Model which

is a step by step process in understanding the dynamics of
conflict. In such group activity, we were provided by Mr
Villanueva of placards which constitute the different steps of
a staircase conflict model. And then we were tasked to
choose a personal experience of conflict from any of the
group and to arrange the placards from descending to
ascending based on the said conflict. In our group, after
series of discussion, we chose to discuss rather on what
ought to be for us, the proper steps in understanding conflict
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Goopio, Kim A.
LLB-2
EH 403
vis--vis the Filipino culture. Mr. Villanueva then presented a
series of images that depicted the staircase model. It was an
image of two conflicting groups.

He then discussed that the first step is the tension

stage wherein there is cooperation and competition with
respect to their positions in a given discourse which brews
tension because of the conflicting positions. Such tension
creates a negative atmosphere, if not remedied, it will
escalate to the next stage of debate and polemics. This can
be resolved at this point by showing the interest underlying
their respective positions.

In the stage of debate and polemics, the two groups

opinion becomes polarised from each other and discussion
are now more on verbal attacks. The each of conflicting
party is more closed-minded because they only listen what
they want to hear, hence depicting superiority over each
other. In order to give remedy on this stage is for each of the
parties to understand the point of view of the other party.

The next step in the creation of coalitions wherein the

conflicting parties distance themselves from other and make
coalitions wherein they recruit supporters and destroying the
other party through spreading rumours. The measure to be
taken to give remedy to this stage it for the party to use nonviolent communication such as avoid blaming and accusing.

Next is the loss of face where each party slanders the

other and vice versa with the objective to reveal their
undesirable characters to the public. Insecurities and
irrational accusations are being thrown by both parties to
each other. This can be remedied if the parties will try to
make distinctions between the real conflict on one hand, and
the feeling of being victimized on the other.

Next step is the strategies of threat, if these threats

are materialized causing damage to the enemy, is seen as a
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Goopio, Kim A.
LLB-2
EH 403
success by the party causing it, this step is known as
destructive blows. And by inflicting damage to other party,
self-preservation is set aside. Hence it is a destruction not
only to the other party but also to the party inflicting the
damage. This can be remedied of actually considering back
the self-preservation of the respective conflicting parties.

On the second day of the seminar, we had more on the

application through group works on what was discussed
especially in relation to the conflict analysis tools. One of the
situation given to us by Mr. Villanueva is the issue of the
Marcos burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani. In our group we
chose the Tree conflict analysis tool. The root cause, as we
have determined in the group, is that we zero it down in
tragedy of martial law. The core issue is of course the
Marcos burial in Libingan ng mga Bayani as sustained by the
Supreme Court. And its branches which represent
consequences are: international mockery since other nations
will see us a nation that patronize a dictator and a human
rights violator; national healing only in relation to the proMarcoses; and with respect to the sector of anti-Marcoses, it
only created distrust in the government and once again
opening their wounded feelings and fear of the tragedy of
martial law.

The Security
Approach

Approach

versus

the

Transcend

Mr. Villanueva introduced to us the difference between

the security approach versus the transcend approach to
conflicts. In security approach, he gave an example that if
there are evil forces that are materialize though violence, the
remedy is to be strong enough to deter such evil. If such
remedy is strong enough, then there is security. This is how
United States and other nations enforce intervention through
airstrikes and other military operations to the alleged ISIS
countries. They are using violence as a means to resolve
conflict. This means does not necessarily mean that the
conflict will not resurface because it merely addresses the
positions and not the core issue of the problem.

Goopio, Kim A.
LLB-2
EH 403
Whereas in Transcend approach, the
remedy will
conflict resolution, addressing not only the positions of the
parties but also its underlying interests and needs. If
accepted, this will result to sustainable and equitable
resolution thus attaining peace. Mr. Villanueva gave an
example of one of Galtungs acts in advocating transcending
conflict is the Peace treaty between Peru and Ecuador over
the disputed territory. Galtung asked the representative
negotiator of Ecuador on what he thought of the idea of
making the disputed border territory into a bi-national zone
with a park that attracts tourists hence bringing additional
income to both countries. Former President agreed to
Galtungs proposal which he proposed it to Peru and was
accepted by the latter. This is a classic example of the
Transcend Approach, were there are conflicting parties,
trying to pursue their respective incompatible goals without
undermining the goal-seeking potential of the other party, in
other words, there is appreciation of differences. By
appreciating the differences in positions, interests and needs
of each of the party helps in transforming a new reality
which is more sustainable, less chances of re-emerging
conflict.

To encapsulate everything, conflict being an everyday

phenomena, has a contradiction between the goals and
means, hence, it must be dealt with positively and
objectively in order to achieve a desirable and sustainable
outcome. There are various tools in analysing conflict, what
is more important is we determine the totality of it: what is
happening, who are involved, why is there a conflict, what
can be done, these are a matters of importance in order to
be conflict sensitive. Equally important, we have to consider
and understand actors say on the conflict, what they really
want and what they really

need. Otherwise, viewing conflict based on merely on their

positions does not end conflict at all. Moreover, we have to
learn how to create alternatives in transforming conflict
without leaving behind the goal-seeking potential of the
other actor. Such manner will lessen the possibility of
violence, which is a destruction not merely on the opponent
but also self-destruction.

Goopio, Kim A.
LLB-2
EH 403
This seminar has been an eye opener for me because it
gives new perspective in viewing and dealing conflict. As a
law student, aside from seeking legalistic approach on every
dispute, why not consider first the positions and needs of the
parties and help them create alternatives in achieving
sustainable and equitable resolution, thus reconciling what
was once an incompatible goals and means to a compatible
one. This approach is more humanistic since we dwell not
only the world of legalese but also the needs as humans
which primarily fuels every positions we have in every
conflict we encounter. This however, does not mean that
lawyers are not anymore needed, well in fact they are
necessary in a civilized society, and it is just that we have to
change the perspective from lawyers yearning to win every
case to desiring to make efforts to create sustainable and
equitable resolution to the underlying dispute --- and that is
conflict transformation.