Ethics in Conflict Resolution: The Ties That Bind

Abstract

AbstractEthical dilemmas are inevitable in negotiation and other conflict resolution situations as parties seek to guard self-interest while reconciling competing interests. There is a developing body of research on the psychology of ethics in conflict, but a relative dearth of scholarly attention to the wider field of ethics in conflict resolution. In this introductory essay, we describe and comment on the diversity of approaches and contexts featured in the articles that comprise this themed issue of International Negotiation. We identify the ethical dimensions of relationships among disputing parties and interveners as a common thematic element that may represent a fruitful avenue for thinking about the distinctive role of ethics in the resolution of conflict.