By Loretta B Manele

Emotional drivers of conflict are feelings that can lead or contribute to conflict and violence.

Johanna Podlesak, director of Pacific Programmes for South-East Asia and Pacific, Conciliation Resources stressed on the above at the “Peacebuilding and Security Dialogue” last week at King Solomon Hotel.

She pointed out that “frustration” and “anger” are often feelings that contribute to conflict and violence and people may feel this way for many reasons.

Podlesak however stated that what this boils down to is people either feeling unheard, ignored or powerless.

“So, it’s important to understand ourselves and how we feel in any kind of conflict situation. Fear and anxiety are also very strong human emotions.”

Podlesak said when we don’t have economic certainty, equal rights or equal opportunities or security of a future, this can lead to fear and anxiety.

She stated this is why understanding people’s needs are really important and why a lot of reconciliation processes really need to take into account the feelings of people as well as the problem.

Podlesak expressed that this is primal because from the day when human beings evolved, we have the sense of having to belong in order to survive.

“We are communal beings. It’s very hard for us to survive alone. So, if we are thrown out of our tribe, if we don’t belong somewhere, this feels like death. It feels like we cannot survive this situation.”

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