Here you will find explanations to important concepts and items in the field of crisis prevention, conflict transformation and peace building.

Conflict

A relationship between two or more interdependent parties in which at least one of the parties perceives the relationship to be negative or identifies and pursues opposing interests and needs. Both parties are convinced that they are in the right. Conflicts are an essential ingredient of social change. They become dangerous when not solved in a peaceful and constructive manner.

Conflict analysis

Action-oriented analysis of the causes and dynamics of a conflict in order to identify starting points for peaceful management and transformation of the conflict.

Conflict impact assessment

Systematic observation of the positive and negative impacts of development cooperation on the dynamics of a conflict at the project and country level. The term is also used in the sense of a risk appraisal.

Conflict management

Short and medium-term activities directed at the peaceful resolution of material conflicts and relationship-based conflicts between the various parties concerned; can take place at any stage of a conflict.

Conflict prevention

A much used but frequently misunderstood term, since as a rule it is not the conflict itself which can be prevented, but rather its destructive escalation or the acute use of violence (= prevention of violence).

Crisis prevention

Activities set out over the long term to reduce structural tensions and/or to prevent the outbreak or repetition of violence (also: conflict prevention).

Early warning

Systematic observation of a latent conflict using conflict prediction models. The objective is to detect the signs of conflict escalation in due time (early warning) in order to initiate preventive measures (early response, early action).

Human security

This includes the protection not only against violence but also against other threats to people's physical well-being and livelihoods such as environmental destruction, disease and economic crises.

Impact

The actual consequences of an intervention - whether intentional or unintentional - for the life of the target groups and others involved, that go beyond the direct project outputs.

Mediation

Various possibilities exist for third-party intervention in favour of conflict management, ranging from the political intervention of a powerful outsider with its own interests to diplomacy between the opposing parties and "good offices". In "mediation," a neutral third party directs the process of conflict management and assists all parties involved to spell out their interests and develop "inclusive solutions". At the same time, the mediator works to strengthen the parties and helps them achieve mutual recognition so that they are increasingly able to regulate the conflict themselves.

Peace building

Medium and long-term measures aimed at setting up mechanisms of peaceful conflict management, overcoming the structural causes of violent conflicts and thereby creating the general conditions in which peaceful and just development can take place.

Peacekeeping, peace enforcement

Observation and enforcement of the implementation of a peace accord and of agreed confidence-building measures, if necessary by military force.

Peacemaking

Short-term diplomatic, political and military activities aimed at the immediate ending of violent confrontations and the conclusion of a peace accord.

Structural stability

"A situation involving sustainable economic development, democracy and respect for human rights, viable political structures, healthy social and economic conditions, with the capacity to manage change without resorting to violent conflict" (Commission of the European Communities 1996)

Sources:

• Crisis Prevention and Conflict Management in Technical Cooperation
  2000, Andreas Mehler/ Claude Ribaux.
  en-crisis-prevention-and-conflict-management.pdf, 0.32 MB (English)
  de-krisenpraevention-und-konfliktbearbeitung.pdf, 0.62 MB (German)
• Conflict Analysis for Project Planning and Management
  GTZ, Manuela Leonhardt, 2001.
  en-conflictanalysis.pdf, 0.83 MB (English)
  de-konfliktanalyse.pdf, 1.39 MB (German)