After Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations about Iraqi arms violations on Wednesday, a Gallup poll found that more Americans are convinced that war is the correct option. However, nations around the world don't all agree. France and Germany, for example, are sticking to their original position against a military overthrow of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. When it comes to diplomacy, there are clear parallels between couples therapy and conflict resolution among nations.
When two partners find themselves in an irresolvable conflict, therapists often don't try to resolve it directly; they look instead for causes. Conflicting patterns of behavior are typically at the root, especially in stalemated relationships, explains Armond Aserisky, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist from the Philadelphia area.
For couples, it's best to first ask whether the relationship is worth saving, Aserisky asserts. If so, both sides must agree to work it out, which will involve compromise. "Usually, each person will have to give up something," says Aserisky. On a world scale, Europe's need for a strong relationship with the U.S. may push France and Germany into supporting a war in Iraq. Even though the French and the Germans do not favor military action, a sour relationship between the U.S. and Europe may hurt an already weak European economy.
