[Online] Books Discussion. The Five Percent: How to End Wars and Other Conflicts

This will be an online meeting on Zoom..

During the book discussion the leader of the discussion presents the most interesting parts of the book. The great emphasis is placed on discussion.

Reading the book is not required.

Book Description
The discussed book will be The Five Percent: Finding Solutions to Seemingly Impossible Conflicts by Peter Coleman

One in every twenty difficult conflicts ends up grinding to a halt. That's fully 5 percent of not just the diplomatic and political clashes we read about in the newspaper, but disputations and arguments from our everyday lives as well. Once we get pulled into these self-perpetuating conflicts it is nearly impossible to escape. The 5 percent rule us.

So what can we do when we find ourselves ensnared? According to Dr. Peter T. Coleman, the solution is in seeing our conflict anew. Applying lessons from complexity theory to examples from both American domestic politics and international diplomacy -- from abortion debates to the enmity between Israelis and Palestinians -- Coleman provides innovative new strategies for dealing with intractable disputes. A timely, paradigm-shifting look at conflict, The Five Percent is an invaluable guide to preventing even the most fractious negotiations from foundering.

Discussion Topics

• What does Coleman mean by “the five percent” of conflicts that seem impossible to resolve?
• Do you agree that some conflicts are truly intractable, or is every conflict potentially solvable?
• Can you think of real-world examples (political, personal, organizational) that fit this “five percent” category?
• How does Coleman’s approach relate to Donella Meadows (systems leverage), Daniel Kahneman (bias and perception), or Malcolm Gladwell (tipping points)?
• Does the book make you more or less hopeful about humanity’s ability to overcome division?
• What does it say about the nature of human conflict—is it inevitable or manageable?
• How does Coleman’s view challenge the idea that “compromise” is always the best solution?