98 Book Reviews 
This small publication is highly recommended as an introduction to and 
overview of the evaluation process for anyone working in a development 
agency. 
Reviewed by Brigid Willmore, Journal of Social Development in Africa, 
Harare. 
References 
Feuerstein Marie-Theres (1986) Partners in Evaluation, TALC/Macmillan, 
London. 
Conflict Management and Problem Solving: Interpersonal to International 
Applications, Dennis J D Sandole and Ingrid Sandole-Staroste 
(eds), Frances Pinter, London, 1987 (321pp, price not given). 
This book certainly lives up to its name — there are a great variety of 
examples of conflict situations, and consideration of their solutions from 
almost every conceivable sector. In all there are 40 individual contributions, 
including situations of divorce, family mediation, community relations, 
dispute reduction in prison settings, environmental mediation, labourmanagement 
disputes, terrorism and hostage negotiation, East-West 
relations and the prevention of nuclear war. These contributions and 
statements vary considerably, both in depth of analysis and content, but are 
linked by their common concern for dispute resolution and the solution of 
social problems. As such this volume genuinely may be seen — as stated in 
the Introduction — as an 'outcome of multiple convergences' (pi). 
Specifically the book is the culmination of a series of lectures given at the 
Center for Conflict Resolution at George Mason University in the United 
States. The contributors not only include staff from this University, but also 
prominent academics and practitioners in this field. 
As we read the book we become aware that the field of conflict 
management is a growing scientific discipline in its own right (or perhaps an 
'interdiscipline'), with its own body of literature, theories and methodologies 
in the process of formulation. This book should contribute in large measure 
to a further definition of this subject matter. Of additional use is an extensive 
list of books, monographs and articles on this topic at the end of the book, 
which is certainly worth consultation. 
Substantial sections of the book are devoted to the elaboration of a 
theoretical framework for conflict resolution, and to a significant extent this 
is achieved. Of particular interest to me were the discussions on the 
'Prisoner's Dilemma Game' (introduced by Morton Deutsch) and the 'Joint 
Outcome Space' of Roger Ricftman. These outline the competitive 
'Win/Lose' (zero sum) option as opposed to the co-operative 'Win/Win' 
(positive sum) option, the former is normally selected in protagonist
Book Rnirws V9 
situations. The cooperative option, also termed 'integrative negotiation', 
emphasises the need for the parties to a dispute to try and establish some 
relationship and trust with each other. This can only come about through 
the process of direct exchanges between the parties, even though they may 
go through stages of 'adversarial contact' with each other. However the 
commitment to joint outcomes, as opposed to unilateral outcomes, means 
that each party should be able to achieve some positive result for themselves, 
without necessarily destroying or undermining the other side. Dean Pruitt in 
his chapter outlines a typology of integrative agreements which can assist in 
achieving collaborative bargaining. One example here is the 'bridging' 
proposal, where the 'interests underlying the interests' of each party are 
examined to a depth that allows development of a bridge between the parties 
concerned. 
It is obvious that parties to a dispute may not be able to setde the conflict 
on their own, Hence there may be need for outside or third party 
intervention. James Laue identifies five of these conflict intervention roles— 
viz activist, advocate, mediator, researcher and enforcer, each of which can 
be seen as one stage removed from the actual conflict itself. 
Surely the most valuable 'spin-offs' from any theory of conflict resolution 
are die applied possibilities. We keep encountering these mrough die book, 
although it is again dear that more use needs to be made of the elaborated 
dieory and researchers need to consider the practical applications more 
seriously. However in many cases diis may not be for want of trying on the 
part of the researchers involved. A good example illustrated here was the 
combined effort of 'a group of scholars and practitioners of international * 
dispute settlement' (p 286) to offer its services to the parties to the Malvinas- 
Falkland Island dispute (ie Britain and Argentina), in an attempt to prevent 
die situation, deteriorating into armed conflict. Unfortunately, and as history 
bears witness, the offer was not considered seriously and die two nations 
fought a brief limited war over the issue. 
Considerable insight is shown into die dynamics of die super-power 
rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, in particular how 
mutual distrust creates a spiral of 'force-counter-force' diat may lead 
inevitably to a nuclear exchange. Sensible alternatives to diis escalation are 
presented to us, and the point is emphasised by several writers that the 
Soviet Union has litde, if any, desire to enter a major war, following their 
disastrous experience during die Second World War. However, in spite of 
the obvious good sense of these options, one contributor (Ralph White) gives 
us a pessimistic prediction of an evens chance of a major nuclear war 
between now and die year 2000. Apart from any odier argument advanced, 
die fact diat such an event is a distinct possibility for mankind should 
underline die urgency for research into die area of conflict resolution. 
The multiplicity of chapters is to some extent daunting to die reader, yet
100 Book Reviews 
some degree of coherence is retained by the fact that authors often refer to 
points made in previous chapters,and by the well-ordered layout of the 
book. 
The Third World does not feature as an area of interest in this book — 
despite the fact that the majority of the world's major conflicts are fought in 
diis arena! This probably has to do with the backgrounds of the 
contributors, who are predominantly American, with many having held 
senior positions in governmental agencies in the United States. However it 
is also likely that some of the authors would contend that Third World 
conflicts are primarily symptomatic of global super-power conflicts in any 
case. Yet the book still has much to offer us in this part of the world as it 
provides a great deal of insight into the processes and mechanics of conflict 
generation and ways to seek its resolution. It is a useful and practical 
contribution to the serious task of seeking solutions and alternatives to the 
often violent conflicts that continue to plague our world. 
Reviewed by Nigel Hall, School of Social Work, Harare. 
Social Welfare in Africa, John Dixon (ed), Croom Helm, London, 1987 
(358pp, £27,50 hbk). 
I approached die review of diis publication, advertised as a comparative 
social welfare volume focusing on Africa, with some anticipation and 
interest. There is no doubt about the need for more published and 
accessible information about social security and personal social service 
systems in Africa. In addition the need for more comparative analyses from 
which models can be derived and built and used for future planning is more 
man dear. 
Social Welfare in Africa is the third volume of a six volume series, edited 
by John Dixon, which looks at comparative social welfare in Africa, Asia, the 
Middle East, Latin America, under socialism and in developed market 
economies. In this volume on Africa, for each of the ten country studies 
presented, the overall format for each chapter is the same and includes the 
welfare system environment, die welfare system an overview, the aged, 
children and youdis, die handicapped, needy families, die sick and injured, 
die unemployed, an assessment of die welfare system, and references and 
further reading. Each country is presented as a separate chapter and the only 
point of active comparison undertaken is this common framework of 
presentation of information — and even diis framework is only die very 
general framework in which specific approaches to information are men 
taken by each chapter audior. 
As noted earlier, ten countries are presented using the framework 
indicated, all of diese countries are from sub-Saharan Africa, only one is a 
Francophone country and none are Lusophone. In the absence of any