OverviewOverview

Why are conflicts “intractable” or resistant to Why are conflicts “intractable” or resistant to resolution?resolution?

What do we mean by “frames” and “framing” of What do we mean by “frames” and “framing” of conflicts? conflicts?

How does the framing of the conflict affect How does the framing of the conflict affect intractability?intractability?

How can understanding framing help you the How can understanding framing help you the addressaddress

conflicts in your work?conflicts in your work?

Characteristics of Characteristics of Intractable ConflictsIntractable Conflicts

Two key characteristics:Two key characteristics: Long term Long term Elude resolutionElude resolutionAdditionally they are often:Additionally they are often: Highly polarizedHighly polarized Value-basedValue-based Dispute resolution efforts tried and failedDispute resolution efforts tried and failed Sometimes involve complex array of Sometimes involve complex array of

stakeholdersstakeholders Rekindled by political shiftsRekindled by political shifts

Frames & Framing

• Framing: Constructing and presenting interpretations of our experience

• We impart meaning and significance to what is framed by distinguishing it from what is not framed.

• By framing we locate ourselves in the experience and

• We attribute responsibility (blame) for what occurs

How Frames Affect ConflictsHow Frames Affect Conflicts

Determine how people define issuesDetermine how people define issues

Affect the risks they perceive as real and info Affect the risks they perceive as real and info they believe is relevantthey believe is relevant

Influence preferences for dispute resolution Influence preferences for dispute resolution

processprocess Shape parties’ views of themselves and othersShape parties’ views of themselves and others

Influence solutions they deem acceptableInfluence solutions they deem acceptable

Examples of Frame ConflictsExamples of Frame Conflicts

Opposition to nuclear waste disposal by African Opposition to nuclear waste disposal by African American communities—framed as “environmental American communities—framed as “environmental justice” issuesjustice” issues

(Bullard & Wright, (Bullard & Wright, 1989)1989)

In Western water disputes: State law frames In Western water disputes: State law frames conflict in terms of rights; tribal law frames it in conflict in terms of rights; tribal law frames it in

terms of sovereigntyterms of sovereignty (Folk-Williams, 1988)(Folk-Williams, 1988)

Types of FramesTypes of Frames

Whole StoryWhole Story IdentityIdentity CharacterizationCharacterization Conflict ManagementConflict Management Views of NatureViews of Nature Views of Social ControlViews of Social Control PowerPower Loss/GainLoss/Gain EthicsEthics RiskRisk

Whole Story Frames

Sum up the essence of the conflict in a few sentences Shorthand for what the dispute is about

Identity FramesIdentity Frames

One key factor underlying what frames we use is One key factor underlying what frames we use is our identityour identity

Identity = “Who am I”Identity = “Who am I”

Our identities:Our identities: Give us a sense of belongingGive us a sense of belonging Are closely aligned with valuesAre closely aligned with values Give meaning to our livesGive meaning to our lives Help us determine what actions to takeHelp us determine what actions to take

Characterization FramesCharacterization Frames

Characterizations = pointed descriptions of others

They can be [+] [-] or neutral.Negative characterizations often = stereotypes 

They’r

e

snobs. He’s stupid!

Conflict Management FramesConflict Management Frames CollaborativeCollaborative

Non-collaborativeNon-collaborative

joint problem solving fact finding authority decides based on expertise authority decides after consultation

Avoidance Adjudication Appeal to political action Appeal to market economy Struggle, sabotage and violence

Adapted from Keltner (1994)

Views of NatureViews of Nature

Use Regenerativity Protection

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Power FramesPower Frames

Authority/PositionalAuthority/Positional ResourcesResources ExpertiseExpertise PersonalPersonal Coalitional/RelationalCoalitional/Relational Sympathy/VulnerabilitySympathy/Vulnerability Force/ThreatForce/Threat Legal/LegitimateLegal/Legitimate Moral/RighteousMoral/Righteous VoiceVoice

Social Control Frames

IndividualistIndividualist EgalitarianEgalitarian

FatalistFatalist HierarchistHierarchist

(Wildavsky & Dake, 1990)

Degree of Consensus

Degre

e o

f O

wn

ers

hip

High

LowLow High

Analyzing Conflicts via FramesAnalyzing Conflicts via Frames

Conflicts are usually analyzed using:Conflicts are usually analyzed using:

Frames provide an enhanced approach to Frames provide an enhanced approach to understanding intractable conflictsunderstanding intractable conflicts

Suggests new basis of intervening in these Suggests new basis of intervening in these conflictsconflicts

issues parties history interests/positions process

Voyageurs National Park CaseVoyageurs National Park Case

One of newest U.S. national parks--authorized in One of newest U.S. national parks--authorized in

1971--land acquisition began 19751971--land acquisition began 1975

Located on Canadian border of MinnesotaLocated on Canadian border of Minnesota

Largely water--3 large & many small lakes and a Largely water--3 large & many small lakes and a

wooded peninsulawooded peninsula

Key Issues in the conflict:Key Issues in the conflict: Resentment over acquisition of personal property for the park Controversy over wilderness vs. recreational use Debate over local vs. federal control of the land/water

Intractability of the ConflictIntractability of the Conflict

Longstanding conflictLongstanding conflict

--1891 Park originally proposed--1891 Park originally proposed

--1964 Re-proposal by governor re-ignited conflict--1964 Re-proposal by governor re-ignited conflict

-- 1975-1987 Protests, lawsuits over land acquisition-- 1975-1987 Protests, lawsuits over land acquisition

-- 1995 Attempt to decommission the park-- 1995 Attempt to decommission the park Resistant to resolution effortsResistant to resolution efforts

-- 1996-7 Federally supported mediation ended w/no deal-- 1996-7 Federally supported mediation ended w/no deal

-- 1998-2000 GMP challenged by local county-- 1998-2000 GMP challenged by local county Frozen frames Frozen frames

-- Issues remain unchanged-- Issues remain unchanged

-- Argued by same and different people-- Argued by same and different people

Key Issues in the ConflictKey Issues in the Conflict

Economic Issues: Economic Issues:

--Local residents perceived land acquisition wasn’t fair--Local residents perceived land acquisition wasn’t fair

--Expected economic gain has not materialized--Expected economic gain has not materialized Interests:Interests: --Wise use proponents (prefer motorized uses, e.g. --Wise use proponents (prefer motorized uses, e.g. snowmobiles, floatplanes) vs. wilderness protectionsnowmobiles, floatplanes) vs. wilderness protection Political Issues:Political Issues: --Heavy involvement by local, state & national--Heavy involvement by local, state & national

politicians in park’s initiation and recent historypoliticians in park’s initiation and recent history

--Local politicians used leverage in D.C. to force--Local politicians used leverage in D.C. to force reexamination of park’s status in 1995reexamination of park’s status in 1995

Whole Story FramesWhole Story Frames

Fundamentally Fundamentally you have those who want to maintain the park you have those who want to maintain the park in its present condition with all motorized uses allowed and in its present condition with all motorized uses allowed and those whose real agenda is to turn it into Boundary Waters those whose real agenda is to turn it into Boundary Waters West.West.

The real conflict is aboutThe real conflict is about differences in philosophies, the differences in philosophies, the constant desire of the Park Service to manage all national constant desire of the Park Service to manage all national parks the same…they ought to be more creative and parks the same…they ought to be more creative and sensitivity to the local culture and local needs.sensitivity to the local culture and local needs.

So, I think some of the problems we have today relate to what So, I think some of the problems we have today relate to what I would call arbitrary decision-making or arbitrary I would call arbitrary decision-making or arbitrary implementation of rules by a park service who has been less implementation of rules by a park service who has been less than considerate to the individual indigenous people’s than considerate to the individual indigenous people’s concerns…concerns…And that’s kind of a thumbnail sketch….And that’s kind of a thumbnail sketch….

Identity FramesIdentity Frames

Frankly, people are upset because they feel like the Federal Frankly, people are upset because they feel like the Federal government, in conjunction with those environmental government, in conjunction with those environmental communities, are tying tocommunities, are tying to take away the culture of the take away the culture of the people here, much like what happened to the Native people here, much like what happened to the Native American community. American community. The government destroyed their The government destroyed their culture, and the people that live here, that grew up here, culture, and the people that live here, that grew up here, immigrated here, have developed a culture here. Frankly, immigrated here, have developed a culture here. Frankly, what they (environmentalists) don’t understand is that what they (environmentalists) don’t understand is that every time they push that agenda, they are taking away every time they push that agenda, they are taking away from the culture of the people who live here. from the culture of the people who live here.

[local park opponent][local park opponent]

Identity FramesIdentity Frames

I believe very strongly in the national park system. One of I believe very strongly in the national park system. One of my goals is that I would like to achieve-- protection and my goals is that I would like to achieve-- protection and conservation are a very important part of our planet; and I conservation are a very important part of our planet; and I believe that the people that work at the park have that believe that the people that work at the park have that same kind of feeling that I dosame kind of feeling that I do..

[Environmentalist][Environmentalist]

The reason that I do that is there is an Endangered Species The reason that I do that is there is an Endangered Species Act, and the park has a responsibility and obligation to Act, and the park has a responsibility and obligation to inventory, monitor, and protect endangered species.inventory, monitor, and protect endangered species.

[Natural Resource Manager][Natural Resource Manager]

Characterization FramesCharacterization Frames

A lot of people were under the impression that A lot of people were under the impression that they had to sell. And they used certain kind of they had to sell. And they used certain kind of pressure tactics on the people. Especially like the pressure tactics on the people. Especially like the old people. old people. It was Gestapo tactics.It was Gestapo tactics.

I find that most of the stuff coming from the I find that most of the stuff coming from the major environmental organizations is major environmental organizations is so full of so full of chicken little hypechicken little hype, the “send us some money and , the “send us some money and we’ll save you” kind of thing, that they are almost we’ll save you” kind of thing, that they are almost like a parallel to like a parallel to television evangelists.television evangelists.

Freeze FramingFreeze Framing

Language used in interviews matches text of Language used in interviews matches text of newspaper articles from 20-30 yrs. agonewspaper articles from 20-30 yrs. ago

Even characterization frames are frozen in timeEven characterization frames are frozen in time

Some players have become mythologizedSome players have become mythologized

Parties talk about the conflict continuing (or Parties talk about the conflict continuing (or dissipating) after current generation diesdissipating) after current generation dies

Freeze Framing—“Freedom” & “Economy”

• Voyageurs National Park is “another example of expanding government control, once again taking away the right and freedom of individuals to truly make decisions regarding their lives and livelihoods in their own backyards” (business person—1964)

• “make sure that peoples’ freedoms are protected and not stripped away from them….” (park opponent—1998)

• “This is all part of the process of ‘incrementalism’ used by the park service which will …slowly erode personal freedoms…Then locals will be forced to move on due to…an economy that can’t survive.” (Newspaper article, 2000)

• “damage the area’s economy and drive tourists to Canada and curtail timber production” in the area (newpaper article, 1965)