Power

Beyond Intractability: A Free Knowledge Base on More Constructive Approaches to Destructive Conflict

Power

	Power If power were one-dimensional, we could agree who has more and who has less. However, we are often surprised when a seemingly less powerful party holds a more powerful party at bay. This essay discusses both potential and actual power, the forms power can take, and its role in causing and solving intractable conflicts.
	Coercive Power Power takes many forms. Coercive power is probably the most common, however it can have unintended consequences.
	Exchange Power Simply put, exchange power means that I do something for you in order to get you to do something for me. These essays explore the concept in depth.
	Integrative Power Integrative power, also known as love or respect, is probably the least explored form of power.
	Power Inequities Plutarch wrote, "An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics." This essay deals with the power inequities that have existed in almost all human societies.
	Empowerment Saul Alinsky wrote, "I tell people to hell with charity, the only thing you'll get is what you're strong enough to get." This essay discusses what empowerment is, how it can be accomplished, who should do it, when, and what the outcomes might be.
	Voice Those whose voices are most often silenced include women, children, minority groups, indigenous peoples, and the poor. This article explains the importance of having a voice, whether it is through voting, holding office, or having a seat at the negotiating table.
	Capacity Building In order to negotiate effectively, parties sometimes need to build their own or others' capacity to respond to their situation effectively by building knowledge, providing resources, or both.
	Networking This essay describes how networking can be used to build relationships and empower individuals and groups to confront difficult conflicts more effectively.
	Coalition Building Coalition building is the making of alliances or coalitions between individuals, groups, or countries who cooperatively work together to reach a common goal.
	Activism This essay discusses ways that disputants can (and do) address intractable conflicts in constructive ways through activism.
	Social Movements Social movements are groups of individuals who come together around an issue to bring about (or resist) change.

You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist. -- Indira Gandhi

Featured Links
Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict

UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34)

Other Resources from
Beyond Intractability

Web-Based Conflict Research Tutorials
A guide to using the Web for conflict resolution research.

Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Desmond Mpilo Tutu
Former Secretary General of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), and 1984 Nobel Peace Laureate

Beyond Intractability Version IV
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Project Acknowledgements

The Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base Project
Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess, Co-Directors and Editors
c/o Conflict Information Consortium (Formerly Conflict Research Consortium), University of Colorado
Campus Box 580, Boulder, CO 80309
Phone: (303) 492-1635; Fax: (303) 492-2154; Contact