Name: Conflict Theory, ‘Cause We Need It
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Conflict Theory, ‘Cause We Need It

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This is because, among other reasons, we are not taught about conflict. One of the consistent comments in the evaluations for my undergraduate Religion and Conflict course is “why don’t we all get taught this, and earlier in our educations?” In the spirit of the question, and for the sake of our collective future, I offer some key insights from conflict and peace studies.
In addition to this conflict theory, I leave you with two reminders.
The arts are often more powerful than theory. Indirect modes of aesthetically-charged communication can convey meaning more effectively than prose. This is true for us and for those with whom we are in conflict. The arts can mobilize our base and theirs to be antagonistic. It is also possible that the arts can help us to relate to one another despite our respective rationales and soundbites.We cannot do any of this alone, despite some conflict theory’s tendency to use first-person pronouns. Manifesting these insights in our lives involves supportive relationships of one kind or another. Unfortunately, this proactive conflict stuff is hardest to do within our own social and familial groups. The theory does not give us a way to overcome this predicament; but, perhaps we can take courage from the fact that we are not alone in it.
Together these reminders bring to my mind a parody that I share with my Religion and Conflict course called “A Thanksgiving Miracle.” Since it’s about that time of year:
Heather M. DuBois is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Stonehill College. She has a PhD in Theology and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She is writing a book, called&nbsp;Moving through&nbsp;Impasse,&nbsp;about intrapersonal transformation in situations characterized by constraint and incomprehension.&nbsp;
Editor’s Note: This post is part of Daily Theology’s Symposium on Racism, White Supremacy, &amp; the Church.&nbsp;Click here for more information&nbsp;or sign up for our email list below to be notified of new posts!
	
	
[1] John Paul Lederach, The Little Book of Conflict Transformation (Good Books: 2003), 5.
[2] Ron Kraybill, “Personal Conflict Inventory,” Mennonite Conciliation Service (1986, 2000), drawing from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument and David Augsberger. I made the image in this section by excerpting elements from an image in Kraybill’s inventory.
[3] Image: “The Progression of Conflict.” In Adam Curle, Making Peace (Tavistock Press, 1971).
[4] Elise Boulding developed practices related to the “200-year present” in her work on “imaging the future.” See, for example, Building a Global Civic Culture: Education for an Interdependent World (Syracuse University Press, 1990) and Cultures of Peace: The Hidden Side of History (Syracuse University Press, 2000).
[5] Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, Sheila Heen, Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most (Penguin Books, 1999, 2010), 112.

This is because, among other reasons, we are not taught about conflict. One of the consistent comments in the evaluations for my undergraduate Religion and Conflict course is “why don’t we all get taught this, and earlier in our educations?” In the spirit of the question, and for the sake of our collective future, I offer some key insights from conflict and peace studies.
In addition to this conflict theory, I leave you with two reminders.
The arts are often more powerful than theory. Indirect modes of aesthetically-charged communication can convey meaning more effectively than prose. This...

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