Conflict Resolution Theory Review: Analyzing Dr. King's Conflict

This essay provides a comprehensive review of conflict resolution theory, examining the causes, levels, and potential resolutions of conflict. The essay uses a segment from the movie about Dr. Martin Luther King to illustrate different types of conflicts, including interpersonal, intrapersonal, intergroup, intragroup, multiparty, and international conflicts. It analyzes the protagonist's strengths and weaknesses in his activism and the strategies that could have been used to achieve a win-win outcome. The essay highlights economic, value, and power conflicts as key drivers and emphasizes the importance of communication and mediation in resolving conflicts effectively. The conclusion stresses the necessity of finding healthy and mutually satisfying resolutions in all conflicts.

Running head: REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEORY 1
Review of the Conflict Resolution Theory
Name
Institution

REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEORY 2
Review of the Conflict Resolution Theory
Introduction
Conflicts entail two or more opposing entities with dissimilar ideas. From the early epoch
of humanity, conflict is said to have originated from the first brothers when either has different
beliefs. Following this, a conflict has been an inevitable part of life. With this in mind, we extract
a segment from the movie Dr. Martin Luther King whereby we try to understand the conflict it
contains and properly understanding its causes with the resolutions that could have taken to end
the quarrel. Palpably, this article brings to light the cause of conflict and how the segment from
the movie relates to conflict resolution.
In the movie, ideologist and activist, Dr. Martin Luther King, plays the lead role as a
protagonist. Moore, C. W. (2014) claims a protagonist is an individual that states an argument. In
the segment, the producer draws the audience to understand Dr. King efforts in airing the
oppressions that the common black man faced in the unjust society, and more often than not the
doctor gets in conflict with the government. As a result of activism, by using his basic right to
freedom of free speech Dr. King inspires crowds of protesters that often face the wrath of the law
enforcement when they collide. For instance, some protesters were beaten with whips while
others were hit with tear gases, just to mention a few incidences. Nonetheless, after all the efforts
the protagonist Dr. King, meet his fatal assassination before the conflict between him and the
state was resolved.
It is important to understand as an individual the causes of conflict that faced Dr. King to
be in a place to mirror his frustrations. Moore, C. W. (2014) illustrates, there are mainly three
distinguished causes that lead to a quarrel between parties. Firstly is the economic conflict. Due
to scarce resource competition motivates this type of conflict in efforts to maximize their goals

REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEORY 3
and gains. Secondly, the value conflict states the dissimilar ways of life and beliefs that an
individual can possess. It is by this conflict that the protagonist Dr. King had divergent ideology
whereby his asserted rightness is questioned and put in conflict with the law. Lastly is the power
conflict, of which is caused when either side tries to manipulate the level of influence that one
commands in its political, social, and economic system Wallensteen, P. (2015). What is more, it
is by this type of cause of conflict that the law retaliated to the ideology of the protagonist.
Levels of conflict
Consequently, Wallensteen, P. (2015) states, there are types of conflict that can face
deviating parties. These conflicts can be illustrated at different levels.
1. Interpersonal conflict occurs when two individuals differ due to personalities. It shows how
people are different in choices and opinions due to the varied lifestyle and individual growth.
This type of conflict is quantifiable and also very easy to detect as it includes an initial
opposition, the tactics, resolution, and outcome. The conflicts consist of three different
components;
Behavioral Components – This type of conflict occurs when one party is
interfering.
Cognitive component – This involves two parties who are illustrating
differences in interests and objectives of the conflicting parties.
Affective component –This is associated with the negative emotional state
of the two parties conflicting. An example is when a colleague makes you
feel anger, demotivation, stress, and frustration.

REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEORY 4
2. Intrapersonal conflict refers to a personal conflict that is experienced by the individual. This
type of conflict is between should and want and it’s mostly driven by values, religious beliefs,
upbringing and the society. It is essential to note, this type of conflict is often quite difficult to
handle especially to those who have inner battles. The type of mind quarrel that one can have
when in self-conflict can leave one restless and uneasy.
A good example is a conflict between oneself consuming alcohol or not, a conservative
Muslim whose upbringing says they should abstain from alcohol versus a surrounding
that’s enticing to consume alcohol.
3. Intergroup conflict happens when there is a misunderstanding among different levels in an
organization. An example is when the human resource department is in logger's heads with the
procurement department. It often occurs when goals and principles are different among the
levels.
4. Intragroup conflict occurs when persons from the same team or department conflict. This
conflict is often stared by individuals who have interpersonal differences arising from their
separate personalities in views and ideas.
5. Multiparty conflict occurs when different cultures that have unrelated priorities over the
management of resources and development of policies. The complexity of this conflict is way
beyond tradition, and collaborative building measures might reach a compromise
6. International conflict refers to a disagreement between nations and states. International
conflict is divided into two major conflicts;
Private-sector International conflicts - involves disagreements between individuals and
business entities who are in different countries or conflicts between national
governments. This type of conflict is more different from the first one because of the

REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEORY 5
distance, culture, language, and laws for the conflicting individuals. This is usually
resolved through arbitration involving one or several international arbitration
organizations to reduce complications and also judicial disputes.
Public international conflicts – This the conflict between two sovereign countries/states.
They are usually hard to resolve as it’s a conflict of a specific ethnic group or region
The global dispute is engineered by competition for resources, and sometimes thirst for power
intertwines in its diplomacy. What is more, propaganda is used a social-psychological
mechanism to distort peace when stakes are raised as stated by Wallensteen, P. (2015).
Protagonists’ strength and weakness
An in-depth assessment of the segment of the movie reveals the advantages and
disadvantages of the actions that the protagonist activist faced during his conflict with the law.
From my point of view, Dr. King started his activism on a motivated note highlighting social
injustices that had blanketed the black community at that particular time (Barsky, 2017). On this
basis, the protagonist lobbied a devoted fellowship that was ready to fight the cause.
Nonetheless, dissimilar to their arrangement going against the laws of the government that was
harshly imposed on the colored Americans turned out to be a weakness that the good doctor
couldn’t handle due to power and control of the government.
Overview of the conflict
As shown from the film, Dr. Martin Luther King. The protagonist and activist started his
conflict journey when he realizes the injustices that he faces while growing up in the same
community that the law diminished. These injustices for the African Americans include police
brutality during the protests, segregation in residential areas n buses, denial to vote e.t.c. It is by

REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEORY 6
this internal conflict that grew into the value conflict, occurs when there is a dissimilarity in the
beliefs in the way of life.Martin Luther King was in conscious struggle between the bound of
struggles of the black people in the United States. It came from the deep longing of motivation
for the oppressed people all over the world (Woodhouse, 2015). There was so much complaining
and discontent all over the world including Asia and Africa which are clear indications of a quest
for freedom and human dignity by people who have been victims of colonialism and
imperialism. This value conflict is what drove Dr. King to inspire other people to share his
ideology. Moreover, despite the level conflict it had reached with the law, Dr. King could have
set up the suitable approach to deal with the problems that existed at the time. As a result, the
destructive outcome that was demonstrated in the movie segment during the conflict couldn’t
have occurred.
The creative outcome that the activist could have used towards dealing with the conflict
could have been at levels of win-lose, where the protagonist wins the conflict. Obviously, before
compromise from both parties they both lose-lose, after a compromise, both sides are a win-win.
However, this strategy could only have been possible if the parties involved were independent of
the other to be able to influence into an understanding (Lussier & Achua, 2016).
Conclusion
In summary, although conflict is said to be inevitable to mankind, it is our duties to find
resolve. From the segment in the movie the protagonist Dr. King, was clearly out of options and
had to start a conflict to be heard. Accordingly, his conflict was not resolved following the
failure to find neutral ground. However, in this current times, conflict resolution can be made
through a mediator for one to limit or neutralize interpersonal conflict and for other levels of

REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEORY 7
conflict on is to encourage efficient communication among other. Needless to say, all conflicts
have to be healthily resolved with a win-win where both parties are satisfied.

REVIEW OF THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION THEORY 8
References
Barsky, A. (2017). Conflict resolution for the helping professions (3rd ed.). Oxford University
Press.
Jackson,Thomas F(2007).From Civil Rights to Human Rights: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the
Struggle for Economic Justice.Philadelphia, University of Pennslyvania Press.
Lussier, R., & Achua, C. (2016). Leadership. Australia: Cengage Learning.
Moore, C. W. (2014). The mediation process: Practical strategies for resolving conflict. John
Wiley & Sons.
Shelby,Tommie & Terry, Brandon (2018).To Shape a New World:Essay on the Political
Philosophy of Martin Luther King,Jr.:Haverd University Press.
Starr,Simon (2017) Letter from a Birmingham Jail:Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr:16 April
1963:CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
SWallensteen, P. (2015). Understanding conflict resolution. Sage
Woodhouse, T. (2015). The contemporary conflict resolution reader. Cambridge: Polity.