Conflicts of interest result when one or more parties believes that in order to satisfy his or her needs, those of an opponent must be sacrificed. Structural Conflicts are caused by oppressive patterns of human relationships. These patterns are often shaped by forces external to the people in dispute. Value Conflicts are caused by perceived or actual incompatible belief systems. Values are beliefs that people use to give meaning to their lives.
Values explain what is good or bad, right or wrong, just or unjust.
Differing values need not cause conflict. People can live together in harmony with quite different value systems. Value disputes arise only when people attempt to force one set of values on others or lay claims to exclusive value systems that do not allow for divergent beliefs. Understanding the five causes of conflict is useful in analyzing disputes and uncovering the root cause of conflicts. The question is not whether conflict will exist.