Frames play an important role in intractable conflict. As lenses through which disputants interpret conflicts, divergent frames limit the clarity of communication and the quality of information and encourage escalation. These frames, embedded in personal, social, and institutional roles, are often quite stable over time. Yet in some intractable conflicts, reframing interventions have contributed to tractability.A riot is at bottom the language of the unheard.Martin Luther King Jr., American civil rights leader, 1967 [Rioters] are lawbreakers, destroyers of constitutional rights and liberties and ultimately destroyers of a free America. American president, 1965 M artin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson are describing the same event using different frames, or interpretive lenses, through which each individual views and makes sense of unfolding events. This article explores the nature of frames and the framing process and their consequences for intractable conflicts. We define the concept and review what is known about frames and their impact on conflict dynamics. We then discuss commonly recurring frames and offer some examples from practice. Finally, we examine the potential for, and implications of, reframing in conflict management.
Lyndon Baines Johnson,
The rational planning model based on the view of planners as expert decision makers is gradually being replaced by collaborative models that acknowledge the joint nature of planning decisions. This article addresses the benefits of recognizing that negotiation is the key vehicle for joint decision making and therefore lies at the heart of planning. It calls for applying negotiation theory and practice lessons to examine and improve the dynamics of collaborative interactions. It proposes that analytical frameworks informed by negotiation theory can improve planning decisions and enhance the odds of their implementation. To illustrate their claims, the authors revisit three key concepts from the negotiation field—interests, mutual gains, and information—and illustrate their use in planning situations with vignettes from planning practice.
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