Although some people think that conflicts can hardly be resolved, some measures can be taken to limit or contain conflicts. The following methods are commonly used in conflict resolution: Negotiation, mediation, arbitration and conciliation.
- Negotiation: it is a process of reaching an agreement through direct discussion by the parties involved. Negotiation involves dialogue between two or more people or parties intended to reach a mutually beneficial outcome, resolve points of differences, gain advantages for an individual or group and to satisfy various interests. It can be used in all forms of conflict with good result.
- Mediation: this is a way of resolving disputes or conflict between two or more parties with the help of a third party. The third party is a mediator, to reach and commonly agreement between the different parties. The mediator should be a neutral person.it means someone who has no interest in the conflict. An example of the mediator in a conflict is that of the United Nations in the Cameroon-Nigeria conflict over bakassi.
- Conciliation: this is a way of resolving disputes or conflict between two or more parties with the use of a conciliator to help them resolve their differences. The role of the conciliator is to relax the tension in the dispute and improve communication. The conciliator encourages disputing parties to explore potential solutions and find a mutually acceptable outcome.
- Arbitration: this is a technique for the resolution of conflict or disputes outside the courts. Arbitration can be assumed by one or more persons calling arbitrators. The different parties involved in the conflict must agree to be bound by the arbitration decisions.
