Yunizar Adiputera Review Peace and Conflict Studies

DEALING WITH CONFLICT (PART II) Non-Western Conflict Resolution Approach Contemporary mindset on conflict resolution rests upon the premise that the conflicting parties need third-party involvement to resolve their conflict, or in other words, they need to be told what they suppose to do in conflict situation. Inherently, study on conflict resolution has been directed at providing people with necessary ability and tool to assist parties in conflicts to settle their issues peacefully. This results in what often called industrialization of conflict resolution, which is characterized by the rise of many experts individuals as well as organizations in conflict resolution. However, there seems to be an integral problem within this approach to conflict resolution. Not only it ignores the fact that some communities do have their own specific way to deal with conflict, but it also fails to capture the perception of those communities on what it means to resolve conflict. It is sometimes useful to examine the way certain communities perceive conflict resolution and then, in some cases, utilize the existing internal mechanisms of those communities to resolve conflicts. The former approach is often dubbed western-style approach, while the latter is called traditional approach or nonwestern approach. The main difference between these two approaches is the way they are constructed. Western approach takes the form of scientific construct while traditional approach rest upon practical specificity and uniqueness. Consequently, western approach attempts to find a universallyapplicable formula to conflict resolution by examining patterns and dynamics of conflicts. The traditional approach, on the contrary, may not be applicable to many cases, but it offers strong legitimacy in its application and, thus, is more holistic and comprehensive. In practice, traditional conflict resolution takes various forms depending on local culture and wisdom. In Papua, there is the tradition of Bakar Batu to symbolize the first step to end war among them. Besides that, Papuans also have big-man culture where certain individuals are highly respected by society and become someone society listens to. In Sulawesi, familial relations become an important tool in amending relations between conflicting parties in villages. Vigilantism also part of the culture in several villages in South Sulawesi in dealing with conflicts. Thieves and robbers are dealt with capital punishment by the vigilante organization formed by villagers, oddly this practice is said to be in reference with Syariah Law. On other issue, like gender and marriage, some communities in Indonesia enforce a

Yunizar Adiputera Review Peace and Conflict Studies local tradition that when a man has done intimate physical encounter with a woman (this does not necessarily mean coitus), the woman has the right to demand the man to be responsible by marrying her. If the man fails to fulfill this, the man will face execution (that is, being murdered) by the womans family. However, with the help from local influential figure and communication between both families, sometimes the man can replace his punishment by paying some sort of fine. Aceh also has its own way of resolving conflict through musyawarah. In this process, the role of nobleman and ulama is very important. Besides that, there is social institution called kedai kopi talks, which highlights the importance of local coffee shop as a place to sit down and solve conflicts. Traditional approach also exists outside Indonesia. In Botswana, there is tradition called Kgotla, which resembles some kind of public meeting. It stands as the institutions where local elders and ordinary people gather to resolve conflicts and develop the culture of peace. It also brings consensus and collectiveness to the forefront of conflict resolution. From several practices of traditional conflict resolution approach drawn above, there are several integral components that could be extrapolated. These are: 1. Respected figure/leader/individual usually informal figures that have real social influence as opposed to formal figures that might merely have formal/legal standing. 2. Informal hierarchical institutions social institutions that grow from grassroots, not the ones imposed by the state. 3. Consensus-based / collectiveness the decision-making is inclusive and invite more participations. 4. Shared values conflict resolution departs from similarity of values adhered by the conflicting parties. 5. Ceremony put importance on symbolism 6. Non-rational having different rational standard with those of the west. 7. Violence violence becomes instrument to resolve conflict. Among those components, the most controversial one that put traditional approach at odd with western-style is the employment of violence as means to resolve conflict. Honor killing

Yunizar Adiputera Review Peace and Conflict Studies in Pakistan, or Papuan war resolution (even kills for both parties), are considered barbaric in reference to current/western civilization. These practices, therefore, are far from being within western conflict resolution text book. Traditional approach, on the other hand, considers that restoration of relations and harmony stand above anything else. The use of violence, if it results in betterment in relations and harmony, is justifiable. The success of either approach, then, is contingent upon what kind of society they are applied in. Traditional society maintains order and resolves conflict through traditional informal approach embedded in their culture (chaotic order), while modern society does it by formulating positive law (legal order). The position of one society/community could be drawn in a continuum, traditional on the one end and modern on the other.
Traditional

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Modern

Chaotic order

Legal order

While both ends of the spectrum have different approach in maintaining order and peace in society, both approaches are in fact effective within their respective context. Peculiarly, though, society that is located in between both ends marked by x often develop problems in their efforts of creating order. This society has progressed from traditional way of life, yet has not managed to reach the status of being modern. Indonesia is a perfect example of this society. From simple observation, it could be seen that Indonesians in general do not feel bound by the existing legal norms regulating them how to, say, drive car in public roads. This is especially noticeable from the impacts, such as heavy congestion and high traffic accident rate. On the other hand, Indonesians are hardly bound by traditional values anymore. The culture of prioritizing common interest over individual interest is not at all reflected in how they drive cars, as people race with each other to get to their destinations. This example confirm the hypothesis that non-traditional pre-modern societies have more problems in maintaining order and peace compared with strictly traditional or strictly modern society.