Conflict Resolution

James A. Schellenberg is Professor of Sociology at Indiana State University. His previous books include An Introduction to Social Psychology; Masters of Social Psychology; The Science of Conflict; Conflict between Communities; Primitive Games; An Invitation to Social Psychology; and Exploring Social Behavior.

• PrefaceI. IntroductionPrologue: Out of the Garden1. The Field of Conflict StudiesPast and PresentBasic ConceptsDistinctions Within Conflict StudiesConflict Theory (and Theories)PracticeThe Plan of This BookSummary and Conclusions2. Conflict Resolution ResearchMain MethodologiesFurther StudiesSummary and ConclusionsII. Theory3. Individual Characteristics TheoriesDr. Einstein Sends a LetterNatural Selection and the Killer InstinctOther Biological and Psychological ConsiderationsTheories of Social LearningSummary and Conclusions4. Social Process TheoriesMr. Smith Returns from FranceThe Wonderful World of MarketsCompetition and ConflictInteractionist PerspectivesSocial Exchange TheoryOther Social Process TheoriesSummary and Conclusions5. Social Structural TheoriesA Revolutionary Discovers the British MuseumThe Dynamics of Class ConflictAfter MarxBefore MarxOther Structural Bases of ConflictSolutions to Structural ConflictSummary and Conclusions6. Formal TheoriesAn Ambulance Driver Ponders the Rhythms of WarA Mathematical Formulation of Arms RacesThe Mathematical Formulation of InterestsThe Theory of GamesSummary and ConclusionsIII. Practice7. CoercionFighting over the FalklandsCan Force Really Resolve Things?Beyond Brute ForceSummary and Conclusions8. Negotiation and BargainingThe General Motors Strike of 1970Formal Negotiations and BargainingNegotiation EverywhereSummary and Conclusions9. AdjudicationCosts of NegligenceThe American Judicial ProcessThe Law in ActionSummary and Conclusions10. MediationAgreement at Camp DavidThe Nature of MediationThe Success of MediationSummary and Conclusions11. ArbitrationThree CasesThe Nature of ArbitrationThe Arbitration ProcessSome VariationsDecisions in Three CasesSummary and Conclusions12. Many Roads to ResolutionThe Spink County WarForms of ResolutionMany RoadsIntractable ConflictsSummary and ConclusionsEpilogue: A DebateNotesBibliographyIndex

"The resolution of conflict in our society promises to become a major professional specialization as the democratization process continues to bring onto the stage of history the needs and interests of formerly suppressed groups. The need for first rate research and thought in this burgeoning area of specialization is great. Schellenberg brings the process of conflict resolution into a wide range of everyday realities so that the reader may become freshly cognizant of the many areas of social life to which the process is relevant and useful. This for many will be an awakening." — Seth Fisher, University of California, Santa Barbara"This book is absolutely fascinating. There are many books on conflict resolution, but none, that I know of, take the author's omnibus review approach of formal theory, experiments, qualitative research, classical social theory, etc. The author manages to blend many varieties of theory and research into a seemingly seamless whole that genuinely illuminates an otherwise overwhelmingly large field of inquiry." — Stjepan Mestrovic, Texas A&M University