Chapter 6 “Power and Conflict.” Morton Deutsch and Peter T. Coleman, eds., The Handbook of Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2000, pp. 108-130.
If you are looking for a very thorough discussion of the relationship between power and conflict, this chapter is the place to go. It provides an overview of the relationship between power and conflict. It explores various dimensions of power and why they are important when considering conflict and its constructive resolution. The chapter sets out some general principles of power-conflict dynamics, including the relationship between power and the escalation / de-escalation of conflict. The chapter also provides a model of power and conflict, showing the relationship between relative power of the parties, and the type and degree of interdependence between them. It concludes with some suggestions for training people who work in the field of conflict resolution to understand and work with power dynamics more effectively. The chapter is highly academic and not always easy to read, but contains a wealth of information.
