Conflict Analysis – Who, What and How of Conflict

From Peacebuilding

Contents 1 Note 2 Purpose 3 Time 4 Participants 5 Materials 6 Process 7 Debriefing 8 Source

Note

With this activity participants are asked to apply a tool for conflict analysis to their context, i.e. to the context of conflict where they live/work in. When participants to your workshop come from different places you might like to form work groups based on their provenience, in order for them to be able to work on the same conflict. You can also choose to apply the tool on a fictional conflict, using a case study, or to a conflict not connected with participants’ background. The process described below refers to participants coming from the same context and analysing their conflict.

For a quick introduction to conflict analysis, click here.

Purpose

To provide a pictorial analytical tool for analysing conflict.

Time

90-120 minutes.

Participants

At least 9 participants, divided in three sub-groups.

Materials

• Copies of handout 3.2 “The Who, What and How of Conflict” at pp.74-75 of Peacebuilding: A Caritas Training Manual (see below).
• Flip chart papers;
• Markers.

Process

I) Introduce the activity with a presentation on conflict analysis, specifically on the Who, What and How tool. For the content you can refer to pp. 62-63 of Peacebuilding: A Caritas Training Manual (see below). Explain the three frameworks (who, what, how). Give handout to participants.

II) Divide the plenary into 3 or 6 sub-groups to use one part of the framework to analyse the conflict. With 3 groups, assign one group the “who,” another group the “what,” and the last group the “how” framework. With 6 groups, assign two groups to each framework. Distribute flip chart papers and markers to each group for taking note of their findings.

III) After about 60 minutes of work in groups, have groups return for large group reporting and discussion.

Debriefing

Full group reporting for this exercise is necessary, since each group will have an incomplete picture of the conflict. Ask each group to report on their discussions and support participants linking the different aspects of analysis into a bigger picture.

Be careful to focus more on the process of using the tool than just on the actual findings. The purpose of this activity is to introduce the tool and learn how to use it.

Source

Adapted from Fast, Larissa, Neufeldt, Reina, Peacebuilding: A Caritas Training Manual, Vatican City: Caritas Internationalis, 2002, click here, p. 70