The purpose of this research is to explore how Egyptian interpersonal conflict situations are influenced by certain prevalent social values and norms. These values and norms shape various aspects of conflicts, from causes, to definitions, to behaviors, to interventions, and finally resolutions. In this study, the purpose is not only to identify certain patterns of behavior associated with different conflict situations, but also to identify the values and norms underlying these patterns; those values and norms that make such patterns logical and sensible to those engaged in conflicts. The research was conducted as a series of case studies of conflict patterns and behaviors in Egypt. It explored the influence of social values and norms on those conflict patterns. This research used the analysis of conflict situations in order to understand their patterns and how they relate to values and norms.
According to the principles of conducting a case study, this methodology included multiple approaches for building a theoretical framework and for data collection. First, two foundational approaches were utilized to develop a theoretical framework and to test the feasibility of using movies as a tool for data collection. The first foundational approach was to develop a theoretical framework for understanding information pertaining to value systems in Egypt and how these value systems influenced the life of individuals, including their conflict behavior. The second foundational approach was to conduct preliminary movie reviews of a limited number of movies (3), and the review of one of these three movies in a focus group was composed of conflict resolution professionals. The preliminary reviews were intended to assess the feasibility of using movies to deduce meaningful information about conflict patterns in Egypt.
Once the theoretical framework and the preliminary reviews were completed, and it became evident that the movie review process was a feasible tool for data collection, a systematic methodology for movie review was developed, which included a rigorous process for selecting movies and for reviewing each movie by multiple reviewers. The movie reviews approach resulted in collecting data from 11 movies. The information collected from the movie reviews were then formulated into an interview questionnaire. The interview questionnaire was then administered to 37 individuals who met a criteria established to ensure that they were capable of providing insightful information on the data collected from the movie reviews.
From a theoretical perspective, it is suggested in this research that most of the difficulty with cross-cultural scholarly works stems from their tendency to assume that one set of values, or one value system, with its own consequent norms and behaviors, apply to all spheres of life. The trouble with such models is that they fail to acknowledge that human behavior, while informed by value systems, is not influenced to the same degree by the same value system in all realms of life. Individual and group behaviors are likely to adjust and change in different situations, and in different realms. This is because individuals and groups’ behaviors are informed by varied value systems, or varied degrees of influence from a combination of value systems, according to which realm they are operating at.
The frame of analysis used in this research assumes that a society may be viewed as composed of several spheres or realms (occupational and personal, public and private, economic and social, etc.). In addition, each society upholds certain values to guide individual and group behaviors and relationships (i.e., individual freedom, entrepreneurship, religious conformity, kinship, etc.). Further, it is assumed in this frame of analysis that a society is not made of separate realms within which values are unique and distinct; instead, a society is made of realms and values that overlap and influence each other. Therefore, conflict resolution techniques and goals may vary from one societal realm to the other, based on the specific overlap of values within each realm, and between realms themselves. A society is divided into different realms: economic, occupational, personal, social, political, and religious. For each realm, certain values, or a certain combination of values to be exact, are more or less emphasized than in other realms. This, in turn, dictates varying goals, aspirations and behaviors in different realms.
The findings from this research suggest that four value systems exist simultaneously in the Egyptian society: the modem, the religious, the traditional, and the legal. Each of these value systems affect conflict behavior to varying degrees according to different factors such as type of conflict (business, family, marital, etc.), location (urban or rural), or socio-economic-educational grouping. These value systems provide individuals with means by which they navigated their lives in a rather rapidly changing society. Further, one significant finding that gained the most agreement among interviewees was the heterogeneity of the Egyptian society was not confined to the group level, but rather each individual was heterogeneous. The religious value system gained most of the respect of respondents, and was also depicted positively in most movies. Even when movies depicted images of misusing religion, or manipulating it, and even when respondents expressed their dismay at the lack of proper application of religion in the society, they were clear that this only reflected their wish to see negative abuses of religion disappear, and a restoration of religious values take place. Religion as a value system did not necessarily represent the mundane jurist rules related to specifics details of their lives. Instead, religion, at least in terms of what it should be about, was viewed by most respondents as a value system fostering social justice, equality, honesty, and the struggle for the betterment of the individual and the society.
In terms of conflicts, on many occasions, they took place because of divergence of interests that resulted from perceptions of scarce resources, unsatisfied basic needs, and threats to values. Yet, whether a conflict source was the struggle over a scarce resource, such as an apartment during the housing problem, or basic need, such as getting divorced to avoid abuse, or over values, such as asserting religious values of honesty over perjury that would increase material gain, the manifestation of the conflict was shaped by the value systems described above. How individuals articulated their issues, how they defined their goals, and how they behaved during a conflict, were all influenced by their mix of values.
The relationship of self-interest to the value systems appeared in a rather complicated manner in movies, and in interview responses. Many of the movies showed that individuals had difficulty expressing their self-interests (in the narrow sense) when they were engaged in a strong relationship with other parties. In these cases, they made efforts to disguise their self-interest within one or another of the value systems.
Informal interventions, either by third parties or secondary parties in interpersonal conflicts occurred often in several movies, and were strongly validated by most respondents. These interventions represented the strong emphasis in the religious and traditional value systems on social responsibility and the duty to assist others in times of stress. Few respondents attributed this behavior to negative modes of interference in others’ affairs. Yet the majority regarded it as a healthy, positive behavior intended to help parties in conflict. Some respondents differentiated between the prevalence of this type of intervention in the rural areas and its fading away in urban areas.
Informal third-party intervention was not always successful. This was true in the movies and also in interviewees’ responses. Several interviewees also suggested that this informal intervention lacks the proper training and techniques.
Movie reviews highlighted two distinct causes of escalation in conflict situations. The first was related to engaging the police or the judicial system in a conflict. This cause of escalation was depicted in several movies, and was always associated with strong emotional reactions, and plots to “strike back” at the party who brought the state into the conflict. The second cause of escalation was related to perception of violation of a strong religious value.
Negative Depictions included three themes that were prevalent in several movies. The first was the depiction of severe injustice against the socio-economically poor and divorced women or women pursuing divorce. In these cases, the justice system also appeared to be unable to assist them. Most respondents agreed that this injustice existed in the society, and many also agreed that the justice system was unable to help. The other two observations regarding negative depictions were related to rich traditional males, and men’s behavior versus that of women. The first observation was the depiction of the rich traditional males as rather vicious self-interested. The second observation was the frequent association of men with negative conflict behavior, and their pursuit of goals in violation of the four value systems. Women’s behavior, on the other hand, reinforced the positive aspects of these value systems. Both statements received the lowest levels of agreement in the interview. The first observation was mainly regarded as a “movie exaggeration,’’ and the second was challenged on the grounds that violation of basic values was not a gender-based behavior; that both men and women were equally capable of good deeds and bad deeds.
According to the findings from this research, there appeared to be a situation of injustice prevalent against the socio-economically disadvantaged and divorced women. The judicial system appeared to be unable to address these issues of injustice, and at the same time was not a preferred type of intervention in interpersonal conflicts. The informal third-party role remains strong in rural areas, but is fading away in urban ones. In both cases, its effectiveness was not perceived highly, despite a strong sense of community responsibility and desire to intervene to resolve conflicts on the part of community members. Finally, four value systems operated simultaneously in the Egyptian society, with religion being of greatest significance in people’s life’s and their conflicts.
Based on these needs, issues, and strengths, it is suggested that an approach to a conflict resolution process in Egypt be guided by principles of social justice and empowerment in order to address the issue of injustice, and to empower socio-economically disadvantaged and divorced women in addressing conflict issues. This approach would benefit from acknowledging the multiplicity of value systems, and how to maximize their use to become tools for social justice and empowerment, and the potential positive role that may be played by the community in conflict resolution. The design and development of a conflict resolution process would best be accomplished by engaging diverse groups representing the Egyptian society in a collaborative process that would reflect the multiplicity of value systems and the diversity of the society.
The efforts to establish conflict resolution processes could benefit from acknowledging the distinctions between urban and rural areas. The value systems mix is different in the two settings, as are the social relations, conflict issues, and the ability of informal third parties to intervene. Therefore, while education efforts on conflict resolution skills and techniques may be useful to inform the already existing informal third-party role in rural areas, efforts in education may not be sufficient in urban areas. In urban areas, it is suggested to design a professional conflict resolution process that would operate via community centers. Establishing community centers, instead of a central state-like organization, could serve the purpose of enhancing community involvement and addressing the diversity of value systems from one community to another.