(An excerpt of Volume I)
Categorizing the elements of a dispute
The next thing you need to understand about the PeaceMatrix™, is that while our problems are infinite because the human experience is infinite, we can organize the essence of the elements that cause conflicts, and then improve that refinement process infinitely.
A fundamental theory behind the PeaceMatrix™ is that human conflicts’ elements are not infinite and infinitely diverse, but categorizable. Within these categories of human dispute elements, are hidden the DNA of the dispute. In other words, a dispute with infinite problems and places to look for solutions is turned into a much more narrowed and fixed set of questions; questions and understandings about differing definitions, who a party is, the morals of one’s own party, the cultures involved, differing wants, limited resources, varying political interests, and communications challenges.