CONFLICT

TRANSFORMATION
TRAINING MANUAL

Levels
1
to
3

EARTHRIGHTS INTERNATIONAL
CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION PROJECT

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE

EARTHRIGHTS SCHOOL

MAY 2005
EarthRights International
May 2005

Graphic & Layout Design

Aung Moe Win

EarthRights International

EarthRights International (ERI) is a non-government, non-profit organization combining

the power of law and the power of people to protect earth rights. Earth rights are
those rights that demonstrate the connection between human well-being and a sound
environment, and include the right to a healthy environment, the right to speak out and
act to protect the environment, and the right to participate in development decisions. ERI
is at the forefront of efforts to link the human rights and environmental movements.

Southeast Asia Office U.S. Office

P.O. Box 123 1612 K St. NW
Chiang Mai University Washington, D.C. 20006
Chiang Mai 50202 Tel: 1-202-466-5188
Tel: 66-1-531-1256 Fax: 1-202-466-5189
infoasia@earthrights.org infousa@earthrights.org

For more information on ERI, visit www.earthrights.org

ii EarthRights International • Conflict Transfromation Training Manual

 Contents
About this Manual...................................................................................... vii

Level
Introduction to Conflict Transformation and

1 Interpersonal Communication................................................................1

Day One

Activity 1: Multi-cultural greetings..................................................................................................2

Ground Rules.................................................................................................................................2
[optional] Group Tasks..........................................................................................................3
Activity 2: Expectation Check..........................................................................................................3
Activity 3: Group Knot.....................................................................................................................4
Activity 4: Communication Challenge (Closed-eye Process)..........................................................4
Activity 5: Introduction to Active Listening....................................................................................5
Handout 1: Active Listening ...........................................................................................................7
Handout 2: “When You Listen”.......................................................................................................8

Day Two

Activity 6: Images of Conflict...........................................................................................................9

Activity Continued: Facilitate a discussion about the following themes/questions:.....11
Handout 3: Theories about the Causes of Conflict.......................................................................12
Activity 7: Active Listening Circles.................................................................................................13
Activity 8: Responding to Conflict.................................................................................................14

Day Three

Activity 9: Paraphrasing.................................................................................................................16
Activity 10: Responding to Conflict II...........................................................................................17
Handout 4: Conflict Styles II.........................................................................................................19
Activity 11: Conflict and Culture....................................................................................................21
Handout 5: Culture and Responses to Conflict ...........................................................................22
Common Responses to Conflict: Flight, Fight, Flow.............................24
Activity 12: Arranging Chairs.........................................................................................................25
Handout 6: Community Conflicts.................................................................................................26

Day Four

Activity 13: I-Messages...................................................................................................................28

Handout 7: Communicating with I-Messages..............................................................................30
Activity 14: The Onion, A Tool for Analysis...................................................................................32
Handout 8: The Onion...................................................................................................................33
Activity 15: Win as Much as You Can.............................................................................................35
Handout 9: Win As Much As You Can..........................................................................................37

EarthRights International • Conflict Transfromation Training Manual iii

Contents
Day Five

Activity 16: Negotiation Practice...................................................................................................38

Handout 10: Elements of Principled Negotiation.......................................................................39
Activity 17: Stages of Conflict.........................................................................................................41
Handout 11: Stages of Conflict......................................................................................................42
Activity 18: Shape Shifting (Closed-eye Process)..........................................................................43

Level
Identity, Marginality and Conflict......................................45
2
Day One

Activity 1: Dots................................................................................................................................46
Activity 2: Identity Circles..............................................................................................................46
Activity 3: Dolphins and Lions.......................................................................................................48
Activity 4: Identity-Conflict Connection.......................................................................................48
Part I: Brainstorm and Discussion...........................................................................................................48
Part II: Identity and Conflict Skits...........................................................................................................49
Part III: Personal Reflection......................................................................................................................49

Day Two

Activity 5: Diversity Lines..............................................................................................................50

Activity 6: “In Someone Else’s Shoes”............................................................................................51
Activity 7: Mainstream-Margin Discussion...................................................................................52
Part IV: Mainstream-Margin Activity......................................................................................................53

Day Three

Activity 8: Invisible Privilege..........................................................................................................55

Handout 1: Two Roles in Conflict..................................................................................................56
Handout 2: Attitudes towards Difference....................................................................................57
Discussion: Attitudes Towards Difference . ..................................................................................58
Activity 9: Diversity Panel..............................................................................................................58
Activity 10: Speak Out [Optional].................................................................................................59
Closing Activity: Guess-the-Hand Game...............................................................................60
Evaluation......................................................................................................................................60

iv EarthRights International • Conflict Transfromation Training Manual

 Contents

Level
Conflict Resolution Skills ........................................................................................61
3
Day One

Introductory Activity.....................................................................................................62
Group Tasks ...................................................................................................................................62
Review Activity: Response to Conflict Simulation..................................................................62
Discussion: Phases in a Conflict.....................................................................................................63
Activity: Conflict Intervention Brainstorm...................................................................................65
Activity: Reflection on Disagreement and Lasting Solutions.......................................................66
Review and Apply Negotiation....................................................................................67
Handout: Some Negotiation Approaches......................................................................................68
Activity: Arm-Wrestling Game.......................................................................................................69

Day Two

Review: Positions and Interests.........................................................................................................70

Activity: Eggs Negotiation Exercise................................................................................................70
Eggs Negotiation Roles.....................................................................................................71
Activity: Dealing with Strong Emotions - Responding to Anger..................................................72
Activity: Village Mapping ...............................................................................................................73

Day Three

Discussion: Introduction to Mediation.........................................................................................74

Handout: Positions versus Needs - A Guide for Mediators..........................................................75
Activity: Communication Review...................................................................................................77
Activity: Mediation - The Opening Statement...............................................................................78
Handout: A Sample Opening Statement by Co-Mediators..........................................................79
Activity: Mediation Role Plays .......................................................................................................80
Mediation Role Play #1.............................................................................................................................80

Day Four

Warm-up Review: Qualities and Guidelines for Mediators.......................................................81

Mediation Role Play #2.............................................................................................................................81
Mediation Role Play #3.............................................................................................................................82
Mediation Role Plays (#4)........................................................................................................................82
Discussion: Stages of Conflict........................................................................................................85
Stages of Conflict and Peacebuilder Responses..........................................86
Activity: Talking to Justice, Mercy, Truth and Peace.....................................................................87
Activity: Film...................................................................................................................................88

EarthRights International • Conflict Transfromation Training Manual 

Contents
Day Five

Activity: Film Debrief......................................................................................................................89

Closing Ritual (Group Task)...........................................................................................89
Evaluation......................................................................................................................................89

> Supplementary Materials . .....................................................90

Consensus: Introductory Lessons and Exercises...........................................................................91

Day One

Consensus Exercise: The Box of Money..................................................................................93

Wrap Up: Lap Sit.................................................................................................................................93

Day Two

Bean Jar Exercise........................................................................................................................94

Handouts on Consensus ..................................................................................................97
Handout: Consensus Terms and Vocabulary................................................................................98
Handout: Formal Consensus Process Step by Step Guide............................................................99
Handout: Tools for Consensus.................................................................................................... 100
Handout: Roles in Consensus Process........................................................................................ 101
Handout: Is this consensus?....................................................................................................... 102
Activity: Negotiating a Salween River Treaty............................................................................. 103
General Background Information.................................................................... 105
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development....................... 109
Example Interests, Positions and Negotiation Strategies.......... 112
Negotiation Activity...................................................................................................... 118
Background on the Arms Trade............................................................................ 121

vi EarthRights International • Conflict Transfromation Training Manual

 About this Manual
Conflict Transformation at EarthRights International
ERI’s work arises from the belief that “Human rights, an ecologically sound environment,
sustainable development and peace are interdependent and indivisible.”
(Draft Principle One on Human Rights and the Environment)

Coming face-to-face with the impacts of Burma’s conflicts on a daily basis, and reflecting
on our experiences connecting human rights and environmental protection, we realized
the urgent need to address the root causes of conflict and to do so with an approach
that integrates conflict resolution, environmental protection, and human rights. Burma’s
ongoing, deeply rooted conflicts warrant immediate attention, in the form of people
equipped with the tools and knowledge to begin resolving or transforming long-standing
tensions and inequalities.

The manual was therefore compiled and written to provide a resource to trainers of social
change and conflict transformation working with communities from Burma, specifically on
the Thai-Burmese border.

Terminology
We use the term Conflict Transformation throughout this manual because it has impli-
cations for broad social change and structural justice. It also highlights the idea that
conflict can transform people and relationships and bring about positive results, not only
destructive ones, and thus should not only be treated as something to end/resolve as
quickly as possible, but to understand, engage in, and utilize.

Progression of topics
Level 1 of the manual begins with listening and communicating skills, along with reflect-
ing on one’s own experiences, feelings and style of dealing with conflict. It also provides
an overview of conflict theory. Level 2 deals with identity and interpersonal conflicts
including issues of diversity and marginalization. Level 3 presents negotiation and me-
diation as important conflict resolution skills and how people can deal with them on their
own or with assistance from an outside party. This level also examines the components
required for reconciliation and ends with an examination of societal level of conflict and
conflict’s structural or systemic roots. Consensus and Group Decision-Making is covered
in a separate unit found in Supplementary Materials. This section also includes two
negotiation simulations which can also be incorporated in the course. Each level of the
manual has elements that are moveable and can be re-sequenced depending on needs
of trainer and group.

How we wrote it
We were able to complete this manual thanks to a combination of experiences. First, ERI
staff had the opportunity to learn about Conflict Transformation concepts and skills from
training programs such as the Summer Peacebuilding Institute at Eastern Mennonite Uni-
versity in Virginia, USA, the Conflict Transformation Across Cultures (CONTACT) program
at the School for International Training in Vermont, USA and the Mindanao Peacebuilding

EarthRights International • Conflict Transfromation Training Manual vii

Institute in Davao, Philippines. We also gradually built our training skills and methodol-
ogy with guidance and training from George Lakey of Training for Change and Ouyporn
Khuankaew of the International Women’s Partnership for Peace and Justice. Finally, we
came to understand the application of conflict transformation and experiential training
for communities from Burma through conducting several trainings at the EarthRights
School and for communities along the Thai-Burmese border, especially the communities
of ERS graduates. We are grateful to our teachers and mentors at the institutions men-
tioned above and to our friends and unknowing teachers, the students at the EarthRights
School from 1999 to 2005. We also appreciate the generosity with which many other
trainers and conflict transformation practitioners have shared their resources and experi-
ences, in particular the Center for International Conflict Resolution at Columbia University
and Andrea Strimling of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

We also would like to sincerely thank the Academy for Educational Development and the
Compton Foundation for their generous financial support for this project.

viii EarthRights International • Conflict Transfromation Training Manual