Deconstructing Conflict: Conflict Theory and Peace Studies Analysis

This essay delves into conflict theory and peace studies, focusing on the seven stages of conflict escalation using domestic violence as a case study. It begins by defining domestic violence as a crime and emphasizes the importance of speaking out against it. The essay then breaks down conflict escalation into seven stages: Specific Problem or Issue, Personal Antagonism, Defensiveness, Expansion of Issues, Breakdown in Communication, Spiraling Mistrust, and Polarization. Each stage is explained in detail, relating it back to the domestic violence example, and discussing the breakdown of communication, mistrust, and eventual polarization leading to separation or divorce. The essay concludes that these stages represent a progression towards conflict resolution, with the final stage occurring when all other methods have failed. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments.

Running Head: Conflict theory and peace studies 1
Conflict Theory and Peace Studies
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Conflict theory and peace studies 2
Table of contents
Introduction..............................................................................................................................3
Conflict Escalation...................................................................................................................3
Conclusion:...............................................................................................................................5
References:................................................................................................................................6

Conflict theory and peace studies 3
Introduction
Domestic Violence is not the problem of the family. It is an absolute crime that results in
severe injury or death. There are many cases all around the world in which people suffer from
domestic violence became the victim of life1. Every day there are cases where the partner is
beaten up by their spouse or friends and ends their life. However, violence is not an issue, and
the primary issue is to hide it from the law an remain silent. The one who is the victim of
violence should raise their voice at the beginning before it gets too late and ends up in
something disastrous.
Conflict Escalation
The conflict can be any whether domestic, national or global can be escalated into seven
stages. The stages are:
 Specific Problem or issue: Domestic conflicts are personal conflicts that are the part
of families and friends. Let's take an issue of personal conflict where the husband
beats his wife every day for multiple reasons such as going out for shopping, talking
with her friends, not preparing good food, bringing her friends inside the home and so
on. The issue of conflict is the wife's daily activities which are not liked by the
husband and ends up in violence2.
 Personal Antagonism: This stage of the conflict escalation explains that the issue is
not related to the problems, but the issue is with the person related to the issues. In
this case of domestic abuse, the actual problems are the wife's activities, but at this
stage, the problem has shifted from the activities to the wife. Now, the main issue or
problem for the husband is his wife. He is not fond of her wife anymore due to many
other reasons that's why he is not liking any of her activities and ends up beating her
which is the case of domestic violence.
1 Attacks on linking (pp. 15).
2 Bronstein, C. (2017). Attacks on Linking Revisited. London: Routledge W. R. Bion,
Chapter

Conflict theory and peace studies 4
 Defensiveness: This stage of conflict escalation explains defensiveness. In this, the
other part or the victimized party also made movements through words or actions for
defending the violence. In this case, the women who are getting beaten up by her
partner every day has become defensive and try to put her visions or point of view in
carrying out the activities that are not liked by the husband. She can defend by saying
that she has gone grocery shopping for home or she did not invite her friends, and
they came by themselves. She can also stop her husband from beating her by holding
his hands comes in actions of defending.
 Expansion of issues: This stage of the conflict escalation is about expanding the
issues. When conflict arises, it will result in an expansion of the problem3. This way
the criticality of the problem also increases and it becomes even more challenging to
come out it. In this case of domestic violence, when it is the husband who was angry
and disputing with his wife, the matter was heated up from one side, but after the
defensive stage, both the parties get involved in the quarrel, and the issue expands and
reaches to a more significant level4.
 The breakdown in Communication: This level of conflict escalation describes when
one of the two parties break down in the dispute. This case represents that the victim
wife who is getting tortured by her husband is continuously suffering from emotional,
physical and mental stress can break down earlier than the husband. The situation
arrives, when there seems to be no solution to the problem or the other party is rigid in
the destructive behavior and not in a good mood to settling up or ending the issue.
 Spiraling mistrust: This stage is about spiraling mistrust. It develops when the parties
involved in the dispute are left with two options whether hit or run. Both the actions
are not the part of any solution but are just a method of escalation or ending the
problem. In this case, it is more likely the possibility that the husband keeps on
insulting his wife irrespective of her appeals and suitable answers to the issues. This
3 Gigi Langer, (2018). 50 ways to worry less now: reject negative thinking to find peace,
clarity, and connection. Possum Hill
4 Dunn, D. (2005). The First Fifty Years of Peace Research. London: Routledge.Edition 1
(pp. 65).

Conflict theory and peace studies 5
explains that the husband is not going to solve the matter in any circumstance, so the
wife needs to respond or step back from the issue5.
 Polarisation: At this stage of the conflict, the parties involved in the dispute are no
longer able to stay at the same place. Polarisation is the time when they seek for
separation, divorce, and others. Anyone of them gets away from the place to
somewhere else and carry on with their dispute from a distant place until the dispute
ends. In this case of domestic violence, the wife is considered as the significant victim
and decides to get away to some other place6. The case will open and continue until
the parties reach the end such as divorce. Both husband and wife must have agreed for
the divorce before filing a divorce. The process continues followed by a separation
where the parties need to stay away from each other for some specific time.
Conclusion:
It can be concluded from the entire discussion that, these seven stages of conflict escalation
undergo all the possible ways of ending the dispute. The last stage occurs when all the
methods fail, and there is no chance of settling up.
References:
5 Olowu D. (2018) Dialectics of Sovereignty, Self-Determination and Violent Strategy in
Africa. In: Iyi JM., Strydom H. (eds) Boko Haram and International Law. Springer, Cham
6 Rohini Bagrodia, (2018). The Lancet Psychiatry, Volume 5, Issue 6, (pp. 466). Mental
health of victims and ex-FARC members: a challenge for the peace process in Colombia

Conflict theory and peace studies 6
Attacks on linking (pp. 15).
Bronstein, C. (2017). Attacks on Linking Revisited. London: Routledge W. R. Bion, Chapter
Dunn, D. (2005). The First Fifty Years of Peace Research. London: Routledge.Edition 1 (pp.
65).
Gigi Langer, (2018). 50 ways to worry less now: reject negative thinking to find peace,
clarity, and connection. Possum Hill
Olowu D. (2018) Dialectics of Sovereignty, Self-Determination and Violent Strategy in
Africa. In: Iyi JM., Strydom H. (eds) Boko Haram and International Law. Springer, Cham
Rohini Bagrodia, (2018). The Lancet Psychiatry, Volume 5, Issue 6, (pp. 466). Mental health
of victims and ex-FARC members: a challenge for the peace process in Colombia