This document discusses conflict dynamics and stages. It describes exacerbating dynamics that can intensify conflicts, including escalation, mobilization, polarization, enlargement, dissociation, and entrapment. Escalation involves increasing tension and violence over time. Mobilization is internal changes and using resources to support conflict. Polarization widens issues and creates long-term confrontations between opposing groups. Enlargement pulls more parties into the conflict through ally-seeking. Dissociation decreases communication and increases negative perceptions between sides. Entrapment occurs when sides feel trapped in the conflict due to past commitments.

1. CONFLICT DYNAMICS
CHANGE IN CONFLICTS

2. Conflict Dynamics
 Conflict exacerbating (intensify)
dynamics
 Conflict mitigating dynamics

3. Conflict Stages / Dynamics

4. Conflict exacerbating
dynamics: “Malign Spiral”
 Escalation
 Mobilization
 Polarization
 Enlargement
 Dissociation
 Entrapment

5. Escalation
 A steps of increasing tension and violence
through time
 Hurting opponents and not merely advancing
interests
 Transform from tractable dispute into
intractable or impossible to resolve conflict

6. Mobilization
 Change within party (internal change), due to
conflict
 The use of resources, time, and energy for
conflict
 The use of religion, ethnicity, or ideology to
organize support for conflict/violence

7. Polarization
 The widening of issues –more and more
contentious issues emerged beyond the initial
incompatibilities
 Adversaries believe they are in opposition to one
another over these wide issues
 Long-lasting confrontations involving polars:
east-west in the Cold-War; North-South in
Sudan, Hindu-Muslim in India; Muslim-
Christians in the Philippines, Sunni and non
Sunnis in Iraq etc.

8. Enlargement
 More and more parties pulled into the conflict
because of ally-seeking behavior
 Patrons and supporters of either side
emerged and consolidated
 Conflict and violence extend to larger areas
 May take the form of proxy-wars

9. Dissociation
 Marked decrease in the frequency of contact
 Narrowing of communication and dialog
 The closing of communication channels
 Avoiding information contrary to the
negative images and perceptions

10. Entrapment
 Trapped in a course of action, namely conflict and
war due to commitments made to support the
course of action during the conflict
 Mentality of “there is no other way” especially
among the leaders;
 Changing course and policy may be considered as a
political suicide
 Difficulty in changing from a “winning mentality” to
“negotiating mentality;” from a unilateral to bilateral
approach to conflict