(This article is part three of a three-part series on modern multidisciplinary fields that can be used as influences and sources of new effective, practical conflict strategies. These three in particular have made an inspirational impact on me during my other research in 2024, and I have started incorporating these influences in my consultation work.)
While there is a degree of unpredictability regarding how something like a verbal attack will be met, logics of micro-sociality nevertheless provide a certain script that one can follow or disrupt.
Prof Isabel Bramsen
Introduction
Sociology itself of course informs the basis of much of my work, with its study of the causes and consequences of human behaviour. But early in 2024, while doing research for my book on urban conflict, I stumbled across the work of Isabel Bramsen, a professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Lund University (see full reference to her book below in the research reference section). This seminal work has certainly opened a variety of doors in my own mind and work, and I am grateful to Prof Bramsen for the inspiration. I am somewhat surprised that we do not see more of the direct influence of micro-sociology in conflict study and practice, and I certainly intend correcting this as far as my own work is concerned. Let’s have a look at what micro-sociology is, and how it can contribute to the larger field of conflict management theory and practice.
A working understanding of micro-sociology
Bramsen gets us off to a clear start:
Essentially, the micro-sociological argument is that humans tend to fall into each other’s rhythms and respond reciprocally to each other’s actions and that this has profound implications for larger patterns of peace and conflict.
This “falling into each other’s rhythms” includes, but is much wider than the more generally known concept, used in negotiation and conflict work, of mirroring. These rhythms show us the power of a range of reciprocal interactions that are wired into us, and that can be used in addressing interpersonal conflict, violence, even crowd behaviour. This phenomenon is, for example, why it is difficult not to smile when smiled at, even from an enemy, why reciprocity works so well, and (if used correctly) why it can make violence more difficult to initiate.
One particularly exciting promise of micro-sociology is that it may lead to agonistic conflict and violence not only being managed or resolved, but actually transformed. Bramsen takes our understanding of the concept further when she explains that “…micro-sociology addresses how the dynamics of interactions shape the participants and the relationships between them.” This opens potentially productive work in the difficult and complex fields of conflict reconciliation and a range of areas in post-conflict societies that could do with the fresh breeze of inspiration and new approaches.
What I also find particularly attractive about micro-sociology applied to conflict is the versatility it brings as a conflict lens in working with the detailed, nuanced world of interpersonal conflict but that it can also bring fresh insights and strategies to international relations, diplomacy and global set-piece conflicts, to name a few examples. In this regard it has shades of the dynamism of mediation, but with the additional benefit of being more than a tool of conflict management itself.
The synergies between conflict practice and micro-sociology
At a meaningful level our conflicts relate to, explain and manage our interactions, at least a particular group of those interactions that we can term variously as conflicts or disputes. Micro-sociology (especially the work of Randall Collins) brings a rich body of work with interpersonal conflict rituals and how they can be understood and managed. To the highly complex and important fields of conflict identity and face-saving strategies Bramsen adds a concept she calls “socioemotional credit”, which deals very efficiently and practically with our daily economies and trade of socioemotional give and take relationships.
Micro-sociology takes conflict studies and practice’s occasional use of non-verbal communication, both in individual and crowd categories, and supercharges it with an even more focused study and application of these multidisciplinary forces that can only add to our ability to read those signs, predict their direction and appropriately and timeously plan and manage them. Verbal attacks, physical violence and other conflict patterns become more predictable and of greater use in our conflict work. I predict that one of micro-sociology’s biggest contributions to the conflict field will be their unique approach to video data analysis (VDA), and I anticipate that we will be seeing an increased focus on this modern conflict tool in the next few years. I have already started using this in my own work.
Bramsen explains VDA as follows:
…VDA is not focused on the aesthetics of politics (Bleiker 2009) or political effects of specific images (Hansen 2015). Rather, videos are analyzed to understand the interaction they portray. Videos are also not used to document or prove real-life events; rather, they serve an observational purpose, providing a window through which to observe real-life events, including the atmosphere, sounds, rhythm of interaction, body language, facial expressions, and contextual factors. In this way, visual data offer analytical potential that is complementary to participant observation.
In addition to crowd work, anticipatory or analysis applications, VDA will also bring new insights to consultation and interviewing facets of conflict work. The concept of socioeconomic credit should be applied in reconciliation and post-trauma conflict work. In the study and management of violence micro-sociology does some very heavy lifting, both in the anticipation (reading) of these events, and in post-event analysis. This can be applied to public violence events, protests, urban crowd control and other conflict arenas.
Micro-sociology brings with a range of practical strategies and skills, relating to inter alia conflict de-escalation, domination neutralization and several others. It has, and continues to do important work on micro-processes in conflict, unique work relating to the appropriate use of humour and other original applications. Micro-sociology also promises to contribute important work to the diplomatic conflict field, an arena where some new work and strategies can certainly be used and welcomed. Existing work on peace talks and facets of peacebuilding and negotiation can act as foundation for further new work and collaboration with the traditional conflict fields.
Conclusion
This brief overview of the work done and available in collaboration and the incorporation of the best practices of micro-sociology has shown a rich vein of possible conflict benefits that should be studied and incorporated in the study and practice of conflicts, including of course a focused study, interrogation and application of those best practices when they are actually transferred and used in dusty streets and imposing boardrooms. Having started incorporating micro-sociology, as well as the other two fields discussed in this series (storytelling and critical systems thinking) in my own work, I am convinced that these modern contributions to conflict work are essential additions, most certainly not optional extras. Time and results will bear my assessment out, one way or the other. Let the work begin.
Summary of main sources, references and suggested reading
1. The Micro-sociology of Peace and Conflict, Isabel Bramsen, Cambridge University Press (2024)
2. Relevant articles (including my future work on this subject) for your consideration and their source material can be found at www.conflict-conversations.co.za
(Andre Vlok can be contacted on andre@conflictresolutioncentre.co.za for any further information)
(c) Andre Vlok
October 2024