What are Intractable Conflicts?

Beyond Intractability participants have thought and written a lot about the nature of intractability. Here are some of their thoughts about it, focusing on different kinds of intractable conflicts, how intractable conflicts are different from more negotiable or "tractable" disputes and how such difficult conflicts can be approached.

The Nature and Types of Intractable Conflicts

Peter Coleman discusses different types of intractable conflicts.
Pamela Aall, of the U.S. Institute of Peace, discusses the disagreement among scholars and practitioners regarding a definition of "intractability."
Peter Coleman explains how intractable conflicts are different from simpler "tractable" conflicts.
Peter Coleman describes five different metaphors or ways of defining what intractable conflicts are all about.

Approaches to Intractable Conflicts

Peter Coleman describes the importance of long-term thinking when it comes to intractable conflicts.
Peter Coleman discusses how some aspects of an intractable conflict might be transformed while others are not.

Case Examples of Intractable Conflicts

Peter Coleman describes an abortion dialogue in which the parties came to respect each other and protect one another, but they were still very polarized on the abortion issue.