Confrontation analysis as a diagnostic tool

This paper outlines confrontation analysis as a means of modelling situations involving interdependent decisions with the potential for both conflict and cooperation. Confrontation analysis is both a development of earlier methods based on game theory, such as analysis of options and an integral part of the newly-developing approach of drama theory. It is based, in the first instance, on identifying the positions adopted by each participant and the fallbacks threatened if each side's position is not accepted. It then shows how each position may be subject to one or more dilemmas, and classifies the possible responses to these (including the strategic uses of emotion and rational argument). We argue that this makes it an easily-applied ‘diagnostic tool’ for understanding conflicts and for interpreting and predicting the tactics used. An illustrative example is provided.