Study Notes on Types and Dynamics of Conflict

5.0 Introduction

  • Chapter Overview: This chapter focuses on the different types of conflict, defined through various professional perspectives. Emphasis is on sub-types of conflicts stemming from identified definitions and causative factors. The chapter does not claim to be exhaustive regarding all known types of conflict.

5.1 Some Perspectives on the Concept of Conflict

  • Behavioral Sciences Perspective (Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology):

    • Conflict is defined in relation to human behavior, highlighting the psychological aspects.

    • Psychology: Investigates the state of mind influencing behavior; defines conflict as "the arousal of two or more strong motives that cannot be solved together" (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2014).

    • Conflict classifications:

    • Intra-Conflict: Conflicts occurring within an individual.

    • Inter-Conflict: Conflicts occurring between individuals or groups.

    • Three further types: approach-avoidance, approach-approach, and avoidance-avoidance conflicts are based on the perception of conflict factors.

  • Causative Factors: The psychological states contributing to intra- and inter-personal conflicts include anger, confusion, depression, and frustration, which arise from external environments.

  • Sociological Perspective:

    • Conflict arises from interactions among parties in competitive settings where resources are scarce (Oberschall, 1978).

    • Drew’s Explanation (2010): Conflict manifests when groups perceive deprivation by others; actions thereafter can escalate conflict or lead to negotiation.

    • Social Conflict Definition by Lewis Coser (1967): "A goal-driven inter-group struggle for values and scarce resources."

    • Includes sub-categories such as civil disorders, protests, class struggles, etc.

  • Historical and Political Perspectives:

    • Historians and Political Scientists focus on conflict through human interaction, identifying types like violent and non-violent conflicts.

    • Examples of sub-types: armed conflicts, intra-state, and inter-state conflicts.

  • Literary Perspective: Conflicts are struggles between opposing forces, typically involving character motivations and values. Major types include:

    • Intra-Conflict: Person vs. self

    • Inter-Conflict: Person vs. person, person vs. nature, person vs. society.

5.2 Types of Conflict and their Examples

5.2.1 Intra-Conflicts

  • Definition: Occurs within an individual’s mind when faced with multiple choices (person vs. self).

  • Examples: Choosing universities, job offers, or combating addiction.

  • Sub-classifications:

    • Approach-Approach Conflict: Dilemma involving two attractive options.

    • Example: Choosing between jollof and fried rice.

    • Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict: Facing two unpleasant options.

    • Example: Choosing between amputation of hands or legs for a punishment.

    • Approach-Avoidance Conflict: Choosing between a positive and a negative outcome.

    • Example: Terminally ill person deciding between mercy killing or prolonged suffering.

5.2.2 Inter-Conflicts

  • Definition: External conflicts involving two or more inter-dependent individuals or groups.

  • Sub-classifications:

    • Person vs. Person: Interaction between individual and another individual (protagonist vs. antagonist).

    • Examples: Competitive elections, politically motivated assassinations.

    • Person vs. Nature: Struggle with the environment.

    • Example: Coping with natural disasters like drought or COVID-19.

    • Person vs. Society: Defending personal convictions against social forces.

    • Examples: Protests against cultural practices like female genital mutilation (FGM).

5.2.3 Inter-group or Inter-unit Conflicts

  • Definition: Conflicts between groups or units such as ethnic or political groups.

  • Examples: Zango-Kataf conflict, Tiv-Jukun conflict in Nigeria.

5.2.4 Intra- and Inter- Political Party Conflicts

  • Definition: Conflicts within (intra-) and between (inter-) political parties.

  • Examples: Rivalries leading to factionalism or member defections in Nigerian political landscape.

5.2.5 Intra-and Inter-Family Conflicts

  • Definition: Conflicts within families (intra) or between different families (inter).

  • Sources of conflict: E.g. property disputes, differing expectations on family roles.

5.2.6 Inter-and Intra- Ethnic Conflicts

  • Definition: Conflicts involving groups claiming same or different ethnic identities.

  • Causes: Often linked to cultural, economic, and political grievances.

5.2.7 Cultural Conflict

  • Definition: Conflict arising from direct interactions of differing cultures.

  • Examples: Hostility over issues like abortion, traditional practices (e.g., FGM).

5.2.8 Private War (Feud or Blood Feud)

  • Definition: Ongoing conflicts between kinship groups, often involving extreme violence.

  • Characteristics: Members attack enemies in revenge against prior injuries, typical in non-literate societies.

5.2.9 Intra- and Inter- Religious Conflicts

  • Definition: Conflicts with religious dimensions, either within the same religion (intra) or between different religions (inter).

  • Examples: Various doctrinal disputes and riots over religious sensitivities.

5.2.10 Economic Conflict

  • Definition: Conflicts arising from struggles for resource inequalities.

  • Examples: Scarcity of jobs, land access issues, and natural resource ownership disputes.

5.2.11 Intra- and Inter-Class Conflict (Class Struggle, Class Warfare)

  • Definition: Conflicts within social classes (intra) and between different classes (inter).

  • Focus: Struggles for resources and class disparities.

5.2.12 Intra- and Inter-State Conflicts

  • Definition: Conflicts occurring within (intra-state) or between (inter-state) countries.

  • Factors leading to these conflicts include: territorial disputes and diplomatic breakdowns.

5.3 Violent Conflicts

  • Definition: Conflicts involving violence, armed or unarmed actions aimed to achieve conflicting goals.

  • Sub-categories:

    • Intra-state Conflict: Civil and guerrilla wars.

    • Inter-state Conflict: Global wars and conflicts between nations.

5.4 Non-violent Conflicts

  • Definition: Conflicts absent direct violence; includes ideological struggles.

  • Example: The Cold War between the USA and USSR characterized by political tensions rather than direct military engagement.

6.0 Introduction (Conflicting Dynamics)

  • Discussion on conflict dynamics in relation to conflict, war, and peace studies.

  • Mention of Albert Einstein’s view on the moral duty to secure global peace.

  • Dynamics of conflict explored, emphasizing the necessity to study them to find solutions.

6.0 Introduction (Conflicting Dynamics)

  • Discussion on conflict dynamics in relation to conflict, war, and peace studies.

  • Mention of Albert Einstein’s view on the moral duty to secure global peace.

  • Dynamics of conflict explored, emphasizing the necessity to study them to find solutions.