Chapter 1 Community Building Meets Conflict Transformation: An Integrated Approach
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Mark G. Chupp
Abstract
Conflict is an inherent aspect of community life, capable of either escalating tensions or providing an opportunity for growth, contingent upon community members’ perspectives and recognition of conflict as a potential avenue for development. Left unaddressed, conflict can lead to the deterioration of community relations. This chapter advocates for the integration of two seemingly disparate fields: community building and conflict transformation. Although both fields aim to enhance individual and overall community well-being, they often function independently. This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices in each approach, elucidating four challenges that conflict poses to communities. Drawing upon extensive research, we propose an integrated theoretical framework and a set of practices that leverage the strengths of each approach. Through case studies from diverse global communities, we explore how adopting a Building Constructive Conflict framework empowers communities to confront conflict in a manner that values every member and perceives differences as opportunities for personal and communal growth. These case studies underscore the relevance of the integrated approach across cultures and degrees of diversity. Implementation of this approach fosters the cultivation of trust, the resolution of differences, and the formation of robust connections, enabling communities to unite to effectively address their challenges.
Abstract
Conflict is an inherent aspect of community life, capable of either escalating tensions or providing an opportunity for growth, contingent upon community members’ perspectives and recognition of conflict as a potential avenue for development. Left unaddressed, conflict can lead to the deterioration of community relations. This chapter advocates for the integration of two seemingly disparate fields: community building and conflict transformation. Although both fields aim to enhance individual and overall community well-being, they often function independently. This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices in each approach, elucidating four challenges that conflict poses to communities. Drawing upon extensive research, we propose an integrated theoretical framework and a set of practices that leverage the strengths of each approach. Through case studies from diverse global communities, we explore how adopting a Building Constructive Conflict framework empowers communities to confront conflict in a manner that values every member and perceives differences as opportunities for personal and communal growth. These case studies underscore the relevance of the integrated approach across cultures and degrees of diversity. Implementation of this approach fosters the cultivation of trust, the resolution of differences, and the formation of robust connections, enabling communities to unite to effectively address their challenges.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Foreword V
- Contents VII
- An Overview of the Book and a Short Review of the Theoretical Framework 1
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Part 1: Theory and research
- Chapter 1 Community Building Meets Conflict Transformation: An Integrated Approach 13
- Chapter 2 Man’s Best Friend? Dogs and Social Conflict in the Israeli Kibbutz 43
- Chapter 3 After all, we are one community: Conflicts between the kibbutz and its new extension neighborhood residents as a reflection of changes in the social field 61
- Chapter 4 Ideological conflicts and their resolution in the kibbutz movement 1948–1956 87
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Part 2: Practical approaches to conflict resolution in intentional communities
- Chapter 5 Consensus building in communities 109
- Chapter 6 Conflict Circles: Practical Experimentation with Derivations of Restorative Circles in U.S. Intentional Communities 125
- Chapter 7 Cultural Context and Conflict in Intentional Communities 139
- Chapter 8 Power-With Instead of Power-Over: Preventing and Addressing Conflict in Communities with Sociocracy 151
- Contributors 165
- Index 167
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Foreword V
- Contents VII
- An Overview of the Book and a Short Review of the Theoretical Framework 1
-
Part 1: Theory and research
- Chapter 1 Community Building Meets Conflict Transformation: An Integrated Approach 13
- Chapter 2 Man’s Best Friend? Dogs and Social Conflict in the Israeli Kibbutz 43
- Chapter 3 After all, we are one community: Conflicts between the kibbutz and its new extension neighborhood residents as a reflection of changes in the social field 61
- Chapter 4 Ideological conflicts and their resolution in the kibbutz movement 1948–1956 87
-
Part 2: Practical approaches to conflict resolution in intentional communities
- Chapter 5 Consensus building in communities 109
- Chapter 6 Conflict Circles: Practical Experimentation with Derivations of Restorative Circles in U.S. Intentional Communities 125
- Chapter 7 Cultural Context and Conflict in Intentional Communities 139
- Chapter 8 Power-With Instead of Power-Over: Preventing and Addressing Conflict in Communities with Sociocracy 151
- Contributors 165
- Index 167
