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What is Conflict Resolution?

Tuesday 24th January 2012 | Emma Robson

The term 'conflict resolution' has been appearing in more and more places over the last 10 years, yet ask people to explain what it is and you get radically different answers.

Most workplaces now have a conflict resolution policy as part of the Human Resource department, however the word is also used in the field of Law, Negotiation, Diplomacy, International Relations, Divorce, Domestic Violence and even War.

The term conflict resolution should therefore be thought of as an umbrella phrase that encompasses many different sceanrios and employs a wide range of theory, skills and people in it's various incarnations.

The most common branches of conflict resolution are:

Divorce Mediation
International Relations
School & Community Mediation
Workplace Mediation
Corporate Mediation

Further to these definitions, the phrase conflict resolution can be used to describe the use of nonviolent resistance measures by conflicted parties in an attempt to promote effective resolution.

The process is often facilitated by negotiators or mediators who act as a neutral third party, this person also acts as a chair to the proceedings. The mediator can also be someone of the same peer group (a process known as peer mediation - which that is now being widely used throughout schools in the UK and USA to combat bullying) Conflict resolution is also often used as an alternative to court where traditional legal action have been shown to be ineffective and costly.