Conflict is a phenomenon that is an important part of human existence and a natural part of our daily lives.Conflicts that take place within a society may be the result of several factors.For this reason,in the works of classical theorist from Marx and Comte to Simmel and Sorel,explainations for social conflict whether on a small or large scale, whether resulting from interactions between social group or caused by external factors have been an issue of common concern.In the same way that is difficult to piont to a single factor as being responsible for order within society,it is as difficult to point a single explanation for the emergence, escalation,or protraction of conflict whether violent or otherwise.In the case where a conflict has degenerated to the point to the point of crisis,it is common that those involved will even find it difficult to remember what led to the initial disagreement
In this chapter,we attempt to capture some of the theories of conflict as expounded by conflict and social scholars.We do so not in a critical way , but by simply presenting some of the key tenets of each theory.The authors come from diverse backgrounds and each background presents something unique to the understanding of conflict.Thus,even though the theories look many and different,each emphasis a particular angle of analysis,and they are not totally mutually exclusive.In fact, most of the theories overlap and these categories provided are only for analytical arrangement rather than trying to draw steel boundaries between these theories.
Conflict is mostly depicted as if it totally negative.This is not always the case.Depending on how it is handled,it can either be constructive (positive) or destructive (negative). It is as common across suggestions that conflict can be used contructively to explore different solutions to a problem and stimulate creativity by recognizing and sensitively exposing conflict as a way of deconstructing long-standing tension as it is,to come across viewpoints that depict conflict as naturally destructive and used mainly to inflict injuries on, neutralize, or subvert the society; encourage individuals to resort to unfriendly behaviours: encourage"win-by-means- necessary" attitudes, where emotions take precedence over reason;lead to the disintegration of groups and the scuttling of national development projects.
Conflict'is a fluid and infinitely elastic concept which can be twisted into different shapes and has become an issue over which scholars find themselves in Sharp disagreement with their colleagues.Divided opinions on the nature, causes and impact of conflict are reflected in the fact that there is single widely accepted theory on which scholars agree though it is also possible to explain this as being a result of the multi-disciplinary nature of conflict research.This'Babel' image probably informed the opinion of Mark and Snyder that:
"Given the pervasiveness of common phenomenon and the diversity of approaches of enquiry, It is legitimate to ask whether the apparent intellectual disorder reflects an inherently incoherent focus of social analysis_a focus artificially created by a label_or whether the disparateness of data interpretations is due in part to interdisciplinary compartmentalism , to academic individualism,or to rapid growth, with it's consequent inattention to direction".
The variety of approaches of enquiry in the field has led to a proliferation of theories through which conflict (or peace) scholars try make sense of the phenomena.Differences in theoretical approaches have also affected the practice of conflict resolution. Sandole provides an explanation viz:
"Practitioners.... work at different levels...in different domains...and derive their ideas from a variety of sources...and the domain in which they operate influence their goals, methods, and overall approache".
He points out , however, that there is a direct relationship of mutual dependence between theory and practice.As he sees it,theory is tested by practice;and theory is generated by practice".