Assignments

Examples of Assignments

The Iceberg model of Positions Interests and Needs

One of the classical ideas in conflict resolution is to distinguish between the positions (i.e. concrete demands) held by the parties and their underlying interests and needs. Interests are often easier to reconcile than positions, since there are usually several positions that might satisfy them.

Categorise the statements in the table below as positions, interests or needs as you see them.

Statements	Positions	Interests	Needs
Afghans “We need to have elections.”
East Congolese "We want food, we are starving."
USA:”We need to stay in Iraq for our Security”
Iraqi’s “We need the American’s to leave to be secure”
Zimbabwe:”We need to have fair re-elections”
Chechians: “The Russians should leave”