Conflict Literacy Framework
Welcome to the Conflict Literacy Framework
This framework is a roadmap for leaders, organizers, activists, conflict practitioners, and peacebuilders within social movements and political organizations. It is designed to build your conflict literacy, develop conflict resilience, and learn tools and skills to engage with conflict creatively and constructively.
Explore the Framework Modules
Conflict Literacy: Understanding and Engaging with Conflict
Foundations for Building Conflict Literacy
Conflict Literacy for Communities and Organizations
Learn the foundational principles and skills of effective conflict engagement.
Understanding the Sources of Social & Political Conflict
Understanding the Sources
Learn about why politics and social change are perennial sources of conflict
Social Justice & Conflict Resolution: An Interest-Based Approach
Social Justice & Conflict Transformation: An Interest-Based Approach
Learn about the relationship and intersections of social justices and interest-based conflict resolution
Conflict Competence: Build Knowledge and Skills
Mindfulness and Conflict Engagement
Mindfulness
Build awareness and skills to manage your mental, physical and emotional states, even in the heat of conflict
Conflict Competent Leadership
Trauma-Informed Conflict Engagement
Engaging Trauma & Conflict
Build trauma literacy and explore the intersection of conflict resolution and trauma.
Designing Conflict Resolution Systems
Conflict Resolution Systems Design
Discover the elements of systems and cultures that addresses conflict early and more effectively
Collaborative Negotiation and Consensus Building
Collaborative Negotiation and Consensus Building
Understand what it means to "find common ground" and how to go about doing this
Conflict Sensitive Approaches to Social Media
Conflict & Social Media
Learn strategies for taking a conflict sensitive approach to social media.
Conflict Engagement Processes and Tools
Dialogue & Facilitation: Generative Conflict and Resilient Groups
Dialogue and Facilitation Tools
Understand how to use dialogue to address conflict, promote healthy communication, and build resilient organizations
Conflict Coaching: Individuals and Teams
Conflict Coaching
Learn what conflict coaching is and why it is useful for social/political organizations
Mediation: What It Is and When To Use It
Ombuds: Using Trusted Conflict Navigators
Ombuds
Learn what an ombuds does, the qualities of an ombuds, how to get an ombuds and/or build the role of an ombuds in your organization.
Circle Process: Restorative Circles and Community Building
Circle Processes
Learn how circles can be used for restorative justice, community building and processing experiences.
Conflict Assessment Tools And Surveys
Conflict Assessment Tools And Surveys
Access samples of conflict assessment surveys that you can use to get a clear picture of what's happening in a conflict
The Need
Conflict is a fundamental part of social movements and political life. Debate and conflict within is important at times, but these conflicts are often handled in negative ways that undermine the movements’ aims and values. Conflict doesn't need to be a negative force. When handled with skill and understanding, conflict and disagreement can become a generative and restorative force - bringing forth new ideas and building resilience.
Interest-based conflict resolution and transformation methods provide deeply democratic, citizen-centered approaches that focus on chronic, systemic sources of conflict. Moreover, they are practical tools for not just settling or compromising, but for resolving and transforming conflict.
The Framework
This framework is designed to build conflict literacy and resilience, and provide a suite of available services and resources. Each module includes basic knowledge of a particular subject area as well as tools and approaches for engaging in internal and external conflict. The aim is to invite users to invest in the realization that conflict literacy can be constructive and generative, and will help them better achieve their mission.
The framework includes both researched-based and best/promising practices in the fields of conflict management, mediation, systems design, and mindful awareness. The framework intends to contribute to setting standards and common terminology within these community and social/political spaces.
The work represented in this framework is the work of many conflict professionals whose collective experience is broad and deep, but we recognize that our experiences cannot and do not encompass the diverse cultures of those who use it. We recommend customization of this framework, its tools, and resources in order to meet the needs and interests of individuals, groups, organizations, and communities.
Statement Regarding Intellectual Property
The authors of this document retain sole ownership over previously copyrighted written materials and information referenced in this document. When using materials in the framework, interested parties and their agents may use written and oral materials provided; however, the authors’ rights to previously copyrighted materials will be respected and appropriately cited.