Comparing a Problem-Solving Workshop to a Conflict Assessment Framework: Conflict Analysis Versus Conflict Assessment in Practice

Figures & data

Figure 1 The MSTC Analysis Cycle. Source: World Vision International 2007.

Table 1 Comparison of Cyprus Problem-solving Workshop and India: Making Sense of Turbulent Contexts.

Variables		Cyprus: Problem-solving Workshop	India: Making Sense of Turbulent Contexts
Participants	Number per party	- Seven total participants - Three Greek-Cypriot - Four Turkish-Cypriot	- 18 total participants - Conflict parties not clearly identifiable - Participants not chosen according to conflict party identity - Participants not identified during workshop as representatives of conflict parties, but as ‘internal’ (World Vision employee) and ‘external’ (non-WV employee)
	Identity	- Clearly linked to specific ethnic group - All supported bi-communal peacebuilding, negotiations - Represented diversity of respective collectivities in gender, professional backgrounds	- Not linked to specific ethnic/cultural group - Diversity in age, geographic location, political views - Lacked diversity in gender, professional backgrounds, religious affiliation
	Connections	- NGOs, academia, media, business leaders, high levels of government - ‘Influential’	- Strong connection to decision makers within own organisations - Not ‘influential’ in terms of connections to political leadership
Meetings	Number	Stand-alone workshop	Stand-alone workshop
	Duration	Four days	Three-and-a-half days
	Frequency	Not applicable	Not applicable
Setting	Neutrality	Neutral (retreat centre)	Neutral (hotel conference room)
	Informality	- Relaxed, informal, off the record - Academic seminar discussion environment - Comfortable, yet professional - Free of extraneous materials	- Relaxed, much more informal, off the record - Interactive classroom/training environment - Activities, colourful materials, group work, visual aids, humorous ‘energisers’
	Seclusion	- Very secluded - Removed from conflict context (from Cyprus to the U.S.) - Retreat centre itself in secluded area, removed from hotel accommodation	- Not secluded at all - Workshop held in state capital, in midst of conflict - Many participants commuted from home to hotel each day - Bandh (general strike) prevented several participants from attending
Agenda/topics		- Analysis of current situation - Strategy development - Highly flexible agenda - Participants had significant control of agenda and topics - No framework for analysis - Free-flowing, unstructured discussion - Highly malleable schedule	- Analysis of current situation - Strategy development - Fixed agenda, little flexibility - Participants had almost no control of agenda or topics - Third party highly directive of agenda - Highly structured agenda – framework for analysis - Specific activities & exercises with precise instructions - Strict adherence to schedule
Third party team	Number	Six members: three facilitators; three observers/assistants	Five members: three facilitators; two assistants
	Identity (facilitators)	- Male - University professors of peace & conflict resolution - One Greek-Cypriot, two North Americans	- Male - WV employees, practitioners of relief, development, advocacy and/or peacebuilding - One North American, two Indians
	Knowledge (facilitators)	- Conflict resolution scholars - General conflict theory & dynamics knowledge - Specific conflict knowledge	- Lead facilitator had general conflict process knowledge - Two co-facilitators more knowledgeable about specific conflict - International development process expertise
	Skills (facilitators)	- Experienced PSW facilitators, conflict resolution trainers, adult educators - Empathic listening, capacity to manage intergroup interactions, ability to paraphrase, summarise, synthesise themes	- Lead facilitator experienced in MSTC facilitation, acumen about group dynamics, capacity to manage intergroup interactions, ability to elicit viewpoints from all participants - Co-facilitators experienced in facilitating adult education processes, but not MSTC, less capacity to manage intergroup interactions and elicit multiple viewpoints