Gandhian Philosophy, Conflict Resolution Theory and Practical Approaches to Negotiation

Bibliographic Data

ID3917534
AuthorsThomas Weber (0000-0002-3833-6197, La Trobe University), Thomas A Weber (0000-0003-2857-4754, La Trobe University, corresponding author)
Year2001
Volume38
Issue4
Pages493-513
Publication date2001-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Peace Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3433 • E-ISSN: 1460-3578
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0022343301038004006
OpenAlexW2103012117
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited43

It is puzzling that links between Gandhian social philosophy and recent conflict resolution/negotiation literature, especially given the latter's Gandhian `flavour', have received so little scholarly attention. While there seems to be no direct causal link between the two bodies of knowledge, conflict resolution literature in the guise of modern problem-solving and win-win (as opposed to power-based and zerosum) approaches leading to integrative conflict resolution (as opposed to mere compromise and distributive outcomes) strongly echoes Gandhi's own writings and the analyses of some Gandhi scholars. This is especially true in the case of non-mainstream writings that see conflict resolution techniques as potentially being about more than the solution of immediate problems, that see a broader personal and societal transformation as the ultimate goal. This article explores these connections and argues that Gandhian satyagraha should be squarely located within conflict resolution discourse

Compromise · Conflict resolution · Epistemology · Mainstream · Negotiation · Political science · Politics · Power (physics) · Resolution (logic) · Social conflict · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Indian History and Philosophy · Law · Nuclear Issues and Defense · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology · War, Ethics, and Justification