Environmental & Socio-Economic Studies
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Environmental & Socio-economic Studies DOI: 10.1515/environ-2017-0008 Environ. Socio.-econ. Stud., 2017, 5, 2: 19-26 © 2017 Copyright by University of Silesia in Katowice ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Original article The relationship with the Other as a platform for discussion about conflicts. Comments on the Orzesze coal mine project Joanna Iza Belzyt Institute of Pedagogy, University of Gdańsk, Bażyńskiego Str. 4, 80-952 Gdańsk, Poland E–mail address: [email protected] _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT An analysis was made of comments in media reports on the selected case, the „Orzesze” mining project, posted by Internet users on news websites during the period July 2014 - December 2016 This article is an attempt to examine the relationship with the Other/Alien when thinking about conflicts around investment projects which will interfere with the surrounding social and natural environment. The article considers the theories on the sources of conflict and the development of the conflict process and its consequences and suggests possible courses of action to prevent the escalation of such conflicts particularly with respect to the “Orzesze” mining project in the Upper Silesia, Poland. Taking into account that the Data, Relationship, Value, and Interest conflicts can all be sources of conflict, it should be underlined that good social communication is extremely important in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and the mitigation of their destructive influence. In a cooperation/communication oriented environment it would be much easier to focus on finding solutions rather than finding the guilty party as this can lead to an escalation of the conflict as searching for the guilty party is inextricably linked with the desire to win or to take revenge. KEY WORDS: socio-environmental conflicts, mining projects, conflict management techniques, relationship, Other/Alien ARTICLE HISTORY: received 9 February 2017; received in revised form 1 April 2017; accepted 5 June 2017 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1. Introduction someone”. A prolonged situation leads, amongst others, to: 1) Stress, fear of social disapproval; 2) Contrary to popular belief, conflict doesn't always Negative emotions that lead to aggression; 3) mean a disaster; on the contrary - it can provide Deterioration of relationships and communication an opportunity for positive change. The threat disorders between the parties involved in the from conflict arises when it is badly managed, or conflict; 4) Wasting of time and resources. neglected, and then it can have a devastating The constructive outcome teaches mutual impact on the relationship between the parties respect and is oriented towards the search for involved and their surroundings. The development solutions aimed at meeting the needs of all of any conflict can be divided into five stages: parties, resulting in, e.g.: 1) Increased trust between disagreement, recognizing and personalization, the parties; 2) A sense of justice; 3) Finding more strategy, open conflict and the result (Table 1). possible solutions. The development of a positive As can be seen, Stage 5 - Result, can be either constructive outcome of the conflict requires a destructive or constructive. Destructive, because willingness to go beyond your comfort zone and it may lead to intensification of antagonisms, look for solutions leading to a change in the mutual hostilities, fear, and frustration. One of the situation in which both sides of the conflict find consequences is the appearance of bias „against themselves (IDZIAK, 2014). 19 Table 1. The conflict process (Idziak, 2014) Stage Description Stage 1 - Disagreement The causes of conflict include, among others, inappropriate communication, over-excitement, inadequate structure and personality differences Stage 2 - Recognizing and Personalization Being in conflict (as a party)/Recognition of the conflict by an external observer, boss, etc. Stage 3 - Strategy Adoption of a strategy (competition, avoidance, submission, compromise, and cooperation1 Stage 4 - Open conflict Behaviour of the parties and the people around them, reactions to behaviour Stage 5 - Result Improving the efficiency of the group or improvement of relations; finding solutions. Decrease in the efficiency of the group, prolongation of the conflict 1Confrontation (competition) – This often leads to escalation of the conflict, as the parties want to win at any cost and are ready to sacrifice what objectively is beneficial for them, as long as it will help to defeat the opponent. This often leads to a stalemate, because the parties do not accept a solution beneficial to the opponent (even if the other party would obtain similar benefits). Avoidance – both sides “ignoring” the conflict, the apparent calm. Both sides avoid each other, or avoid sensitive topics, increasing the distance between the parties. Unresolved problems are growing, preventing cooperation. The conflict is prolonged, no visible signs. The prolonged avoidance can result in sudden emotional outburst in the least expected moment, the so-called "straw that broke the camel's back". Compromise – Parties to the conflict do not feel satisfied with the settlement of the dispute, because each of them has to give up some of their expectations. This leads to attempts to renegotiate the agreements and return to open conflict. A compromise can be reached when there are a number of issues that hold a different level of importance for each party. This allows giving up the least important things. Submission (adaptation) – is submission to others just “for the sake of peace". This may be a good strategy in less important issues. The threat is that the submission to others leads to the situation where the parties are accustomed to the situation where one party achieves its goals at the expense of the other. Over time, the escalation of demands and decreasing reciprocity can be observed. Cooperation – represents a desire to develop a mutually satisfactory solution. Often costly and time-consuming, it enables to reduce the distance and build trust between the parties. Strategies based on cooperation are showing results, also in the context of future conflicts - both parties are more likely to avoid destructive behaviors (see Idziak, 2014, pp. 7-8). 2. Potential sources of conflict These emotions arise during a meeting with the Other/Alien which is always a potentially conflictual The American mediator CH.W. MOORE (2009) factor due to the fact that anything that arouses distinguished five potential types of conflicts and anxiety moves away from a state of homeostasis "locked" them in the so-called Circle of Conflict and leads to cognitive dissonance (SCHUDSON, 1984; (Table 2). This breakdown is universal and therefore ROSENBERG, 1990, 1991; KUZMICS, 1991; HALBENSTADT extremely useful when creating a platform for ET AL., 2001; SCHILLING, 2003; TURNER & STETS, analysis of conflict or conflictual situations. 2005; KOWALIK, 2007). According to WALDENFELS A conflict situation can result from several causes; (2009, p. 11): The otherness or strangeness of the in addition, each side can focus on another issue, other “is a liminal phenomenon par excellence”, depending on the level of importance to each party. because what belongs to me or the Other/Alien is Furthermore, the first three conflict types can relative to each other and, in all its separateness, form a chronological sequence of an escalating Own and Alien’s are, to a smaller or larger extent, conflictual situation: an unresolved data conflict intertwined with each other (WALDENFELS, 2009) can transform into a relationship conflict, and the and the borders between myself and others (what latter, if prolonged, leads to escalation and a much is mine and what is yours) can be determined more serious conflict: value conflict. In such a only in relation (opposition) to the "others"; it is situation there is no chance for a constructive possible to look at ourselves through the eyes of solution, so it is suggested that some common others and respond to the basic question: "Who ground should be found in order to reach an am I?” (BACHTIN, 1986; ORŁOWSKI, 2016). In the agreement. The most preferred option is to reduce case of a meeting, individuals (Me-You) can benefit the conflict to a level of interest conflict or a from seeing different things from each other’s structural conflict. point of view. Therefore, the Other/Alien may have, In a situation of real conflict it is extremely (next to potential threats and fears), development difficult to reduce the conflict to the above potential; just like in the case of the "outcome" of mentioned levels. This is due to the fact that the conflict (Table 1), the encounter with the conflict usually involves strong emotions, which Other/Alien can be constructive or destructive. are usually unconscious (BELZYT, 2005, 2015). 20 Table 2. Types of conflicts according to Ch.W. Moore (2009), own work (JIB) based on Ch. W. Moore (2009) Types of conflicts Causes Description Data conflict Lack of information Occurs when the parties to the conflict do not Wrong, or different understanding, and have the necessary data, have different/conflicting interpretation of data information or interpret them differently.