In a multi-stakeholder dialogue or participatory process, conflicts are disruptive. But when they are dealt with effectively, they also offer opportunities. That’s essentially what Pablo Lumerman(1) shares with us about his job as a conflict facilitator and mediator between communities, companies and governments in Latin America. Overcoming neutrality, establishing a relationship of trust and understanding cultural barriers are just some of the (many) challenges he faces.
Missions Publiques. Are you an expert in conflict resolution or transformation AND a facilitator? What bridges do you build between these two “functions” and how can one facet help the other?
Pablo Lumerman. Conflict is a natural and inherent part of human interaction. It can arise due to differences in values, beliefs, interests, or resources and manifests in various forms such as interpersonal conflicts, social conflicts, political conflicts, and international conflicts. While conflicts are often viewed as negative and disruptive, they also present opportunities for growth, change, and better understanding when effectively addressed.
In times of turmoil, it is crucial to gain a profound understanding of conflict resolution practice. This understanding extends beyond a global perspective, encompassing global wars and the climate crisis. It also applies to the fragmentation of social fabric and conflicts rooted in power asymmetries, clashing worldviews, and identity, which often polarize communities and nations. As a facilitator, my role involves comprehending the social energies that can contribute to conflict resolution while moving beyond mere neutrality.
Neutrality alone is inadequate when it comes to avoiding the repetition of oppressive patterns within conflicts. It necessitates a deeper examination of the underlying causes and power dynamics at play. Transforming conflicts involves actively challenging and dismantling oppressive structures, systems, and behaviors. It entails recognizing and addressing power imbalances, inequalities, and injustices that contribute to the conflict.
Conflict transformation goes beyond resolving immediate issues; it seeks to instigate positive changes in attitudes, behaviors, and structures that fuel the conflict. Collaborative problem-solving, dialogue, and the establishment of sustainable peace become focal points. It is crucial to recognize that avoiding conflict altogether can, at times, create a recipe for disaster. Therefore, as a facilitator, it becomes imperative to address grievances, needs, and questions early in the process. By addressing historical precedents and preventing destructive conflicts, a solid foundation can be established.
Missions Publiques. How do you get past the stage of mistrust between two stakeholders in a project where, at least on paper, everything is at odds?
Pablo Lumerman. That’s the question! How can we establish a safe and inclusive environment for right-holders affected by private corporate projects? When we enter situations that require conflict prevention, it is common to approach them with a sense of distrust and pessimism. As facilitators, mediators, or coordinators of participatory processes, one of our key challenges is gaining trust at the outset, which is not always easy to achieve. However, it is essential that we prioritize building trust in the process itself. This initial stage should not be overlooked.
Establishing a solid foundation of trust transforms individuals in conflict into partners in conflict resolution. This approach aims to shift the dynamics between conflicting parties from adversarial to collaborative. While acknowledging the existence of the conflict, the focus is on reaching an agreement that accommodates the interests of all parties within a new context. This shift in mindset encourages collaboration, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.
It is also important to consider the power dynamics among the parties involved. In the case of government representation and private companies seeking to develop a five-star hotel with potential impacts on local communities and neighboring parties and coalition governments, it is crucial to recognize that each entity has its negotiation process. Understanding and acknowledging these different perspectives and processes are essential for fostering effective dialogue and reaching mutually beneficial outcomes.
"From the perspective of facilitation strategy, it is important to reflect on the design of the facilitation team, both institutionally and personally.
Pablo Lumerman
Conflict facilitator and mediator
Missions Publiques. Can you give us concrete examples of the challenges that you need to address as a facilitator in conflictual dialogues?
Pablo Lumerman. One significant challenge is designing meaningful processes that address key questions: who will be involved, and what roles will they play? Additionally, the choice of venue is crucial to avoid bias or perceptions of control. Meeting in governmental premises, for example, may raise concerns about undue influence. To ensure fairness, the design and agreement of the process should involve all parties to establish good convening power.
Another challenge is equipping participants with negotiation skills and tools to foster engagement, build consensus, and facilitate within their sectors. Additionally, there can be cultural challenges, such as the top-down decision-making approach that prevails in some contexts. This approach often leads to personalization and limits inclusivity. Corruption further complicates matters as it operates behind the scenes and undermines trust.
These challenges encompass structural, cultural, and dynamic aspects, offering both obstacles and opportunities. To address them, agreements should be forged in a manner compatible with the context. My approach emphasizes adopting a human rights and gender perspective, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the negotiation process. Acknowledging the influence of social class, ethnicity, and gender is crucial in compensating for asymmetries and empowering marginalized voices. Striking the right balance is essential – being sufficiently proactive to drive progress while also allowing enough space for individuals to process and work at their own pace. This combination encourages people to engage and process the issues within their social contexts.
A human rights perspective is paramount as it generates dynamics that prevent human rights violations and fosters a climate of protection and care. However, it is worth noting that many agreements, despite not being fully compatible with human rights standards, are still accepted by parties involved but not necessarily those affected by them. In such cases, the cost of these agreements is often externalized and borne by underrepresented parties and populations.
An illustrative example of these challenges can be found in my experience living in North Patagonia, Argentina. This region is abundant in fertile land irrigated by great oases and was historically developed through the conquest of indigenous Mapuche lands by the Argentine rising Nation-State in the late 19th century. However, around a decade ago, there was an uprising of indigenous communities that organized and empowered themselves to assert their rights. The conflicts arose when a massive investment in fracking for shale gas and oil transformed the area, resulting in conflicts with Mapuche families who lived there. In response, these families integrated themselves into indigenous organizations and formed communities that resisted and engaged in negotiations.
I was entrusted with facilitating an intercultural dialogue that involved a consultation and consensus-building process with the goal of reaching agreements in this context of massive investment and intensified conflict on land rights. To ensure inclusivity, I followed a culturally appropriate process aligned with the UN’s protocol of consultation and used the national and local indigenous and human rights frameworks. This involved acknowledging women’s leadership, connecting parties’ interests and goals with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in shaping the substance of the negotiation agenda. In addition to reaching compensation and agreement, it was essential that the parties deal with the post-oil scenario and invest in agro-ecological initiatives around the site to strengthen the agreement and ensure its sustainability for the community life plan and society.
Missions publiques. What the trust-building mechanisms would you would encourage in politically armed contexts?
Pablo Lumerman. Trust-building is a fundamental aspect of peacebuilding and plays a central role in designing interventions in violent crises, favoring de-escalation and conflict transformation. Establishing practical mechanisms for building trust is essential when initial levels of trust are low. In countries affected by armed conflicts, like Colombia or Yemen, trust is often severely lacking. Taking small steps and gradually building trust with third-party players connected with the warring parties, creating positive and negative incentives, can create conditions for safe de-escalation, bridge-building, enabling environments for political negotiations, and depolarization efforts. This approach is not only more effective but also much safer than attempting to bring all parties together immediately with unrealistic expectations that can lead to frustration.
From the perspective of facilitation strategy, it is important to reflect on the design of the facilitation team, both institutionally and personally. The facilitator team must somehow represent the plural, complex, and asymmetric cosmos that it wants to facilitate and ensure dealing with the asymmetries with transparency, humility, and a commitment to a human rights approach. For example, because I am white, male, and middle-class, it is easy for me to gain trust-building efforts from governments and companies because the people behind these doors look like me. So, I try to work with partners who come from other cultural backgrounds that can connect with them. I also tend to bring the parties away from their conflicting spaces to a new environment to take a step back together, which fosters mutual understanding.
