What is the importance of identifying the 'position' of each stakeholder in conflict mapping?

Identifying the 'position' of each stakeholder in conflict mapping is important because it reveals their stated demands, publicly expressed preferences, or official stance in relation to the conflict. A stakeholder's position is their declared viewpoint, which may or may not reflect their underlying interests or needs. Conflict mapping is a visual tool used to analyze the actors, issues, and relationships within a conflict. Understanding each stakeholder's position provides a starting point for analyzing the conflict dynamics. It helps to identify the key issues in dispute and the areas where the stakeholders disagree. However, it's important to remember that positions are often superficial and may mask the underlying interests and needs driving the conflict. Understanding positions allows for a preliminary assessment of potential areas of agreement and disagreement. For example, in a land dispute, one stakeholder's position might be 'We demand full ownership of the land,' while another stakeholder's position might be 'We refuse to relinquish our traditional grazing rights.' Identifying these positions helps to clarify the immediate points of contention, which can then be further explored to uncover the underlying interests and needs driving those positions.