JORAS - Nigerian Journal of Religion and Society

Conflict is as old as humanity. It is not necessarily an evil. It can lead to progress and development. It can also lead to the destruction of lives and property. All depends on how it is handled. The paper is generally concerned with intergroup conflicts within which ethnic conflicts fall. The paper suggests certain principles as mechanisms for conflict resolution in intergroup conflict. Three principles are discussed, namely principles of Analysis, principles of Confrontation and principles of Resolution. The principles of analysis are about the steps to be taken in analyzing a conflict with a view to unearthing the causes and identifying the actors. The principles of confrontation focus on the quality of intergroup interaction and the nature of the problem- solving and negotiating processes as necessary to addressing the conflicts successfully. The principle of resolution engages the transformation process of a conflict toward a mutually acceptable state that is self supporting and self correcting. Finally, the paper suggests that in the resolution of conflicts, the parties involved or the intervenor should focus on interests rather than on positions.

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