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Social Conflicts Quotes

Browse 6 quotes about Social Conflicts.

Social Conflicts Quotes

“We are not an advanced species – not when millions of our sisters and brothers still go hungry - not when countless of our siblings still don't have a roof over their head - not when many still spend every second of their life in fear of being bombed to death. And to change this, we need sacrifice - sacrifice of bravehearts - sacrifice of young lions and bold tigresses - sacrifice of boiling blood.”

ProgressSacrificeHungerHuman RightsHumanitarianService Of HumanityHumanitarianismBraveheartHumanitarian CrisisSocial Conflicts
Book:Citizens of Peace: Beyond the Savagery of Sovereignty
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“It is critical to recognize that we live in an increasingly complex world - biologically, socially, politically, technologically, you name it - that holds many inherent contradictions. In the middle of this complex world are we humans, who have a natural tendency to seek coherence in what we see, feel, think, and do. When we experience conflict, this tendency intensifies. Conflict is essentially a contradiction, an incompatibility, oppositely directed forces, and a difference that triggers tension. When we encounter conflict, within the field of forces that constitute it, the natural human tendency is to reduce that tension by seeking coherence through simplification. Research shows that this tendency toward simplification becomes even more intensified when we are under stress, threat, time constraints, fatigue, and various other conditions all absolutely typical of conflict. So what is the big idea? It is NOT that coherence is bad and complexity is good. Coherence seeking is simply a necessary and functional process that helps us interpret and respond to our world efficiently and (hopefully) effectively. And complexity in extremes is a nightmare - think of Mogadishu, Somalia, in the 1990s or the financial crisis of 2009 or Times Square during rush hour on a Friday afternoon. On the other hand, too much coherence can be just as pathological: for example, the collapse of the nuances and contradictions inherent in any conflict situation into simple 'us versus them' terms, or a deep commitment to a rigid understanding of conflicts based on past sentiments and obsolete information. Either extreme - overwhelming complexity or oversimplified coherence - is problematic. But in difficult, long-term conflicts, the tide pulls fiercely toward simplification of complex realities. This is what we must content with.”

ComplexityCoherenceCognitive DissonanceOversimplificationUs Vs ThemIntractable ConflictSocial Conflicts
Book:The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts
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“Human beings are driven toward consistency and coherence in their perception, thinking, feeling, behavior, and social relationships. This is natural and functional. Conflict intensifies this drive, which can become dysfunctional during prolonged conflicts. However, developing more complex patterns of thinking, feeling, acting, and social organizing can mitigate this, resulting in more constructive responses to conflict.”

ConflictComplexityTribalismCoherenceOversimplificationUs Vs ThemIntractable ConflictSocial Conflicts
Book:The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts
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“Forget the constitution, forget sovereignty, forget your so-called devotion to your homeland, and for once in your life, devote yourself to the making of peace, because if you don't, then your children will be born in a land so narrow and wild, that they will curse you for giving birth to them in a primitive society. They will breathe in gun powder instead of oxygen, they will bathe in blood, instead of water and they will live inside the wreckage of buildings instead of a home. Is this the world you have in mind for your beloved progeny? Is this the future you hope to give to the apple of your eye? Think - put down the weapon and think. Turn off the news and think. Silence your phone and think. Open your eyes and think.”

WarPeaceWorld PeacePeace On EarthOne HumanityGlobal HarmonyPeacemakingPeacemakerSocial Conflicts
Book:Citizens of Peace: Beyond the Savagery of Sovereignty
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“Of course, our natural impulse in these [intractable conflict] situations is to fight or flee. To lash out, blame, attack, or challenge someone, or otherwise try to get out and avoid the situation altogether. These responses make perfect sense in the short term, but likely will have little effect on the 5 percent [of conflicts that are intractable]. In fact, they may make matters worse in the long term. So if escaping or resolving this conflict is your goal (and we do not assume this is always the case), we suggest a different approach. And it begins with complicating your life.”

ComplexityEngagementAvoidanceConflict ResolutionPolarizationConflict ManagementOversimplificationUs Vs ThemIntractable ConflictSocial Conflicts
Book:The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts
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“[Standard social science approaches to analyzing conflict] too often miss the unintended consequences of well-intentioned acts. Dietrich Dorner is a German psychologist who studies leadership and decision making in complex environments. He has suggested that there is more harm done in today's world by well-intentioned people trying to do good, who are unaware of the unintended consequences of their actions, than by people actually trying to cause harm. Remarkably, this may well be true.”

WarConflictGood IntentionsUnintended ConsequencesIntractable ConflictSocial ConflictsThe Road To Hell
Book:The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts
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