CTS

What is Conflict Transformation?

Conflict transformation is a relatively new invention in the toolbox of conflict prevention. It complements military strategies, which contain actual violence in conflicts, and a dispute resolution approach (mediation, for example), which addresses the problem of disputes behind the actual violent behavior.
Conflict transformation starts with the realization that violent disputes, conflicts and intra- or inter-state wars often take place within a structure of interaction, which could be transformed into a more peaceful direction, for example, by

• Creating new opportunities for non-violent competition/negotiation/bargaining or influence.
• Addressing the issues of economic relative deprivation, and
• Blocking some of the violent opportunities for the exploitation of an anarchical criminalized economy.

Conflict transformation is an attractive tool in peace interventions because it often

• Avoids the nationalistic sensitivities often provoked by other types of interventions.
• Avoids taking sides in concrete political disputes.
• Uses the tools of normal unconditional development cooperation
• Is to a large extent compatible with the aims of poverty alleviation, as well as promotion democracy, good governance and human rights.
• Conflict transformation approaches require analysis of conflict structures. This analysis can serve as a basis for a longer term assessment of conflict-related country/area risks.

CTS-Conflict Transformation Service

CTS-Conflict Transformation Service is a company registered in Finland/EU. It serves as an institutional framework for several intellectual networks, which as such are not entities that can act as contracting parties, and which sometimes are unable to enter into contracts through the research/university institutes their members work for. Today CTS Conflict Transformation Service operatons have been taken over by a new company Calx Proclivia, whose mode of organisation is better fitted to the needs of the service.