Conflict Analysis: Understanding Causes, Unlocking Solutions

by Matthew Levinger

The change in the patterns and nature of deadly conflicts since the end of the Cold War has spurred many organizations in and outside governments to develop robust strategies to anticipate, prevent, and respond to these conflicts. Conflict analysis is the critical first step toward meeting these objectives. Conflict Understanding Causes, Unlocking Solutions is a guide for practitioners seeking to prevent deadly conflict or mitigate political instability. Governments, nongovernmental organizations, and businesses operating in conflict zones will find this volume to be a practical, accessible reference for understanding and communicating persuasively about threats of organized violence. This handbook integrates theory and practice and emphasizes the importance of analyzing the causes of peace as well as the causes of conflict. It stresses that conflict analysis is a social as well as an intellectual process, helping practitioners translate analysis into effective action. To illustrate key points, Levinger draws on both historical and contemporary cases, including the Cuban missile crisis, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Yugoslav wars of secession, the Rwandan genocide, the 9/11 attacks, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Part I examines contemporary global conflict trends, perspectives on the causes of conflict and peace, and quantitative models for early warning and risk assessment. Part II provides practitioners with a menu of analytical tools for systematically assessing causes and potential trajectories of deadly conflicts. Part III focuses on the role of conflict analysis in decision making and program implementation, including the social dimensions of conflict analysis. The analytical tools in this volume illuminate emerging trends in complex, volatile, and ambiguous environments and will enable practitioners to anticipate and respond with greater agility to threats and opportunities.

Genres: Grad School

280 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Sam Dotson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book felt a little outdated since most of the conflict examples were intra-state conflicts (i.e. civil wars) and the conflicts were primarily in the Global South. It had some useful general information about conflicts but fell short of expectations.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong book in many respects but seems to lose something in the last couple chapters. Even so, an excellent resource that provides a lot of insight in a slim, compact volume.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book; this one has a permanent place on the shelf. There is not a single thing in here that is new, but the author does an outstanding job of seamlessly integrating theories and methods ranging widely across multiple disciples to shape an effective approach to the title subject. The book's structure progresses iteratively from theory to practice to application in a manner that ensures clarity. Applicable well beyond the intended target audience. Definitely recommended.

There are only a couple of relatively minor things that I take issue with. In comparison with the preceding chapters, the one on "Navigating Cognitive Minefields" is relatively undeveloped. The piece on groupthink is a bit narrow, and the bit on psychic numbing really needs more work. Then there's the section on designing a plan of action in the final chapter, "Conflict Analysis in the Planning Process." The sub-text on Venn diagrams feels likes its added as an afterthought - like he wanted to discuss visualization methods in presenting analysis, but didn't have time to go into it in detail like he did with everything else.

Those small issues aside, this is one of the best books on the subject I've seen.