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Miami SPEC Class Collaborative Blog

Isaac Prilleltensky

Confrontation or collaboration

By Isaac Prilleltensky - 9 months ago

For the readings this week, a number of strategies are explored to promote community well-being. Some are more confrontational than others, and I was wondering what was people's level of comfort with open conflict strategies, and what type of strategies might help in Miami.

When I lived in Nashville, for example, people warned me against using confrontational, Alinsky type interventions, because they would be opposed by the local culture. Seems to me that in Miami people have more tolerance for confrontational approaches. Any thoughts on that? Different contexts require different approaches to promote community well-being. I would like to know people's experiences with various approaches in Miami and which ones are more likely to succeed with what type of issues.

 
Labels: Action/Practice, Community Change, Organizations

5 Comments

 
Post #1
Blake Hall Blake Hall - 8 months ago

I definately agree that in Miami a greater tolerance exists for confrontation than many other places.  I think this is partially related to the many different ethnicities, cultures, languages and barriers that exist in South Florida and what we as a whole see as acceptable behavior.  Because of our "gumbo" of a culture, i think that success rate on any type of conflict strategy can change from issue to issue, and from culture to culture and so on, and more depends on knowing and understanding your environment and all the players involved.  Resolving conflict may be near similar across the board in Nashville, TN, but definately not in Miami.   

 
Post #2
Blake Hall Blake Hall - 8 months ago

and on another note, i've used both confrontation and collaboration and both have succeded and failed.  :-)

 
Post #3
Shaleen Fagundo Shaleen Fagundo - 8 months ago

In Miami, it may be more appropriate to say that there exists a greater 'desensitization' for confrontation than 'tolerance'.  Miami has such a poor history of improperly run government and distruct for government.  As a result, groups often confront local government at every opportunity.  I agree, too, with Blake that the frequency with which there is confrontation in Miami is due in part to the unique cultural diversity that exists in Miami.

 
Post #4
Michael Malone Michael Malone - 8 months ago

the moment - and model - that I go back to again and again for addressing conflict in Miami is the evening that Ted Koppel came to Miami to film a "Nightline" show - at the height of conflict and schism around the Elian Gonzalez case. The community was split open, bleeding. In the auditorium at FIU, Koppel set a strong "container" - he established clear guidelines: we know that we do not agree, but we will respect each other, respect the person, respect the viewpoint. It worked. Though people spoke their truths passionately and emotionally - the guidelines (articulated repeatedly) were withheld. 

I often use the word "container" to describe this process. And it is important that people stay in the container - while holding the tension of hearing the "truths" of others. When someone walks away, they could go away feeling wounded and hurt - if they can just stay in the tension, the possibility of transformation and healing is possible. The container is built from trust and there are ways to create this.

 
Post #5
Isaac Prilleltensky Isaac Prilleltensky - 8 months ago

Hi Michael,

I believe in "containers". The art of conversation requires skills for containment and skills for holding the tension. Conversational chaos leads neither to democratic outcomes nor democratic processes.

 

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