ICONS recognise the achievements of the 20th century's most important and influential figures, men and women who helped shape our world today. We will feature their achievements and remind us of our duty as humans and how we can also be creators for change. We believe conflicts not only impact individuals but economies and societies as a whole, therefore we support government and global businesses with providing their people with the tools to avoid conflicts.
Nelson MandelaLived: 1918-2013
Born: Mvezo, South Africa Known for: Freedom fighter who became South Africa’s first black president |
1 / Overview
In 1952 Mandela was the deputy president of the African National Congress, a party determined to overthrow the racist apartheid regime in South Africa. 2 / Creator for Change After his arrest in 1962 Mandela was sentenced to life in prison and he was held on the remote Robben Island. He endured long stints of solitary confinement, often going without sleeping or toilet facilities, treatment designed to reinforce Mandela’s sense of powerlessness. Yet the opposite happened. Mandela became the focal point for a global campaign against apartheid which eventually forced the South African government to change its mind. He was finally released in 1990. 3 / Leading a Nation Once Mandela was elected president in South Africa’s first free elections in 1994 he did not seek retribution, despite his brutal prison treatment. Instead, he governed for the whole country, arguably preventing a civil war. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which aimed to heal South Africa through confession and forgiveness rather than revenge and conflict, was established during his time in office. It has since been used as a model for other countries to teach decision makers and leaders to consider alternatives such as mediation. |
Emmeline Pankhurst
Lived: 1858-1928
Born: Manchester, UK Known for: Suffragette and campaigner for women’s votes in Britain |
1 / Overview
After the campaign for women’s right to vote had been running for decades, Emmeline Pankhurst decided enough was enough. She co-founded a group with the motto "Deeds not words". This group of women became known as the suffragettes and Pankhurst led them through a series of uncompromising protests. 2 / Creator for Change Even behind bars the suffragettes strived to improve things. They objected to the conditions prisoners endured with a series of hunger strikes, many of which were brutally ended with force-feeding. It was a tactic by the authorities that ultimately back-fired, as the bad treatment led to increasing public sympathy towards the suffragette movement. 3 / Victory When the First World War broke out Pankhurst called for a truce at home and paused her more aggressive tactics. As men headed for the battlefields, she encouraged women to step up and keep the country running strategically. When the war was over calls for women’s suffrage could no longer be ignored and in 1918 some women over 30 got the vote. Ten years later men and women got the same voting rights. |
Mohandas Gandhi
Lived: 1869-1948
Born: Porbandar, India Known for: Leader of the Indian independence movement |
1 / Overview
After experiencing racism whilst working in South Africa as a lawyer, rather than go home, Gandhi stood up for his rights. He formulated the principles behind the non-violent resistance that became the basis of all his protests and put them into action. 2 / Creator for Change Gandhi inspired India and tried to encourage the country’s various communities; Hindus, Muslims Christians, Jains, Sikhs etc, to work united. It was a huge undertaking and the journey to independence was far from smooth. Gandhi’s early calls for non-violence when taking on the might of the British Empire proved difficult in practice, leading to deaths, reprisals and arrests. However, his steady, peaceful approach slowly swayed international public opinion, forcing British authorities to negotiate. 3 / Conflict Avoidance In 1947 independence came to India. But his hopes that Hindu and Muslim communities could live together in one state were dashed when the country was split into two: India and Pakistan. The resulting violence cost Gandhi his life a year later when he was assassinated. Yet his model for peaceful resistance and inclusive values not only freed his country, it has guided activists across the globe ever since to think about alternatives to conflict. |
Dr Martin Luther KingLived: 1929-1968
Born: Atlanta, USA Known for: American civil rights leader who campaigned for black rights |
1 / Overview
In AmericaIn 1955 Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This sparked a 13-month mass protest boycotting the public buses led by Dr King. He had been inspired by Gandhi’s use of non-violent resistance. The boycott was a defining moment in the emerging civil rights movement in the United States and it ended segregation on buses just over a year later. 2 / Creator for Change Martin showed how local discrimination was a stain on the USA as a whole. In 1963 he highlighted how Birmingham, Alabama was “the most segregated city in America”, leading to television cameras capturing brutal images of police repression. King’s sentiments and campaigning found expression in a rally attended by over 250,000 people in Washington D.C. Here the pastor-turned-activist delivered his "I Have A Dream speech"; one of the greatest pieces of oratory of all time. It’s no coincidence that the US Congress outlawed segregation in public spaces just a year later in 1964. 3 / Vision King’s activism wasn’t without its costs. Arrested and spied on, in 1968 he was assassinated in Memphis by a far-right gunman. Yet the forces of change that King ignited could not be stopped. The US has continued to take strides towards equality, with progress on segregation, voting rights, the election of America’s first black president in 2008. In the 21st century, there remain significant battles to be fought, but King’s dream continues to inspire. His vision continues to draw on and continue his fundamental message of conflict resolution and equality. |
CREATORS FOR CHANGE
Prime dispute promotes an ethos which encourages conflict/dispute avoidance and resolution mechanisms as an equal to litigation. The recognition from government and policy makers supports our mission to create a better working world that supports all economies and avoids conflicts.
Prime dispute promotes an ethos which encourages conflict/dispute avoidance and resolution mechanisms as an equal to litigation. The recognition from government and policy makers supports our mission to create a better working world that supports all economies and avoids conflicts.
Conflict / Exploring the role of emotion in conflict
Emotions are complex and have both physical and mental elements and opinion is divided on how they should be measured or studied. Emotions can be broken down into subjective feelings, physiological responses, and expressive behaviour. Expressive behaviour is the easiest to understand because of its outward sign that an emotion is being experienced. Outward signs of emotions can include facial expressions, tone of voice, rapid breathing or other body postures. The outward expression of an emotion gives other people clues to what someone is experiencing and helps to regulate social interactions.
Emotions are categorised as primary and secondary. Anger is considered to be a secondary emotion as other emotions normally precede it. We often feel angry in response to how we perceive we, or others close to us, have been treated i.e. it is a physical and mental response to a threat or to harm. It is one of the most basic of human emotions. Anger has many levels ranging from irritation to blinding rage to a 'slow burn' resentment that festers over many months or years. Some people find it very difficult to openly express anger and consequently may display passive aggressive behaviours. However it is expressed it is important to deal with it directly and constructively whilst understanding that sometimes people just need to vent, they need to 'get it off their chests'. Very often this act of venting can be a positive step in helping them to move forward constructively. Conversely, responding to anger with anger will never produce a positive result
Conflict is not merely a disagreement. If it was just a disagreement, it wouldn't cause the level of emotion that people normally feel when dealing with it. That’s why conflict can be so ugly. Conflict triggers strong emotions and can lead to hurt feelings, disappointment, discomfort and ultimately anger. Very often it is the underlying emotion that is causing the conflict rather than the presenting issue/ situation. Therefore, if disputes are handled in an unhealthy manner by untrained individuals, possibly with vested and conflicts of interest, the outcome can be irreparable rifts, resentments, and separations. However, when conflict is resolved in a healthy way, it increases our understanding of one another, builds trust, and strengthens our relationship values. Never underestimate the power of an apology in conflict resolution. Acknowledging the source of the anger and apologising for any action, however unintentional, will often cause it to quickly defuse.
As humans we have varying degrees of control over the extent to which we express our emotions and anger. If a person is unable to manage their emotions it can leave them so stressed that they are incapable of understanding what they want or need to solve a dispute; the emotions are quite simply overwhelming. Consequently, if you don’t understand your own needs and wants, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to effectively communicate any underlying causes for the dispute and what you need to 'move on'. To successfully resolve a conflict, you should seek training or advice in practicing three core skills: the ability to quickly reduce stress in the moment, the ability to remain comfortable enough with your emotions to react in constructive ways even during the full force of an argument or to walk away from the situation before the conflict escalates. It is important to note that conflicts can be found in many situations and often arise because parties have ignored their own or others' feelings and emotions. Emotions are inextricably linked to conflict, and positive feelings among the parties are often a key component of resolution. Once you learn to accept that emotion, however well masked, is ultimately the foundation of all conflict it becomes easier to manage the resolution process and achieve a positive outcome for all concerned.
Emotions are complex and have both physical and mental elements and opinion is divided on how they should be measured or studied. Emotions can be broken down into subjective feelings, physiological responses, and expressive behaviour. Expressive behaviour is the easiest to understand because of its outward sign that an emotion is being experienced. Outward signs of emotions can include facial expressions, tone of voice, rapid breathing or other body postures. The outward expression of an emotion gives other people clues to what someone is experiencing and helps to regulate social interactions.
Emotions are categorised as primary and secondary. Anger is considered to be a secondary emotion as other emotions normally precede it. We often feel angry in response to how we perceive we, or others close to us, have been treated i.e. it is a physical and mental response to a threat or to harm. It is one of the most basic of human emotions. Anger has many levels ranging from irritation to blinding rage to a 'slow burn' resentment that festers over many months or years. Some people find it very difficult to openly express anger and consequently may display passive aggressive behaviours. However it is expressed it is important to deal with it directly and constructively whilst understanding that sometimes people just need to vent, they need to 'get it off their chests'. Very often this act of venting can be a positive step in helping them to move forward constructively. Conversely, responding to anger with anger will never produce a positive result
Conflict is not merely a disagreement. If it was just a disagreement, it wouldn't cause the level of emotion that people normally feel when dealing with it. That’s why conflict can be so ugly. Conflict triggers strong emotions and can lead to hurt feelings, disappointment, discomfort and ultimately anger. Very often it is the underlying emotion that is causing the conflict rather than the presenting issue/ situation. Therefore, if disputes are handled in an unhealthy manner by untrained individuals, possibly with vested and conflicts of interest, the outcome can be irreparable rifts, resentments, and separations. However, when conflict is resolved in a healthy way, it increases our understanding of one another, builds trust, and strengthens our relationship values. Never underestimate the power of an apology in conflict resolution. Acknowledging the source of the anger and apologising for any action, however unintentional, will often cause it to quickly defuse.
As humans we have varying degrees of control over the extent to which we express our emotions and anger. If a person is unable to manage their emotions it can leave them so stressed that they are incapable of understanding what they want or need to solve a dispute; the emotions are quite simply overwhelming. Consequently, if you don’t understand your own needs and wants, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to effectively communicate any underlying causes for the dispute and what you need to 'move on'. To successfully resolve a conflict, you should seek training or advice in practicing three core skills: the ability to quickly reduce stress in the moment, the ability to remain comfortable enough with your emotions to react in constructive ways even during the full force of an argument or to walk away from the situation before the conflict escalates. It is important to note that conflicts can be found in many situations and often arise because parties have ignored their own or others' feelings and emotions. Emotions are inextricably linked to conflict, and positive feelings among the parties are often a key component of resolution. Once you learn to accept that emotion, however well masked, is ultimately the foundation of all conflict it becomes easier to manage the resolution process and achieve a positive outcome for all concerned.
