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Power asymmetry in conflict resolution with application to a water pollution dispute in C hina
Author(s) -
Yu Jing,
Kilgour D. Marc,
Hipel Keith W.,
Zhao Min
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1002/2014wr016257
Subject(s) - asymmetry , conflict resolution , information asymmetry , power (physics) , china , position (finance) , order (exchange) , social conflict , economics , environmental economics , computer science , environmental science , political science , microeconomics , law , physics , finance , quantum mechanics , politics
The concept of power asymmetry is incorporated into the framework of the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution (GMCR) and then applied to a water pollution dispute in China in order to show how it can provide strategic insights into courses of action. In a new definition of power asymmetry, one of the decision makers (DMs) in a conflict can influence the preferences of other DMs by taking advantage of additional options reflecting the particular DM's more powerful position. The more powerful DM may have three different kinds of power: direct positive, direct negative, or indirect. It is useful to analyze a model of a conflict without power asymmetry, and then to analyze a power‐asymmetric model. As demonstrated by analysis of the water quality controversy that took place at the border separating the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, this novel conflict resolution methodology can be readily applied to real‐world strategic conflicts to gain an enhanced understanding of the effects of asymmetric power.