Culture Clash: Conflict and Its Management

Abstract

Conflict that arises due to culture clash could not be avoided. One of the Slum area that once known as the area of prostitution, Kalijodo, were being transformed by the local government into an area of green open space and also child friendly integrated public spaces. This transformation has a significant impact toward the Kalijodo merchant. These merchants face many and serious conflict. The conflicts due to culture clash and its management that were being faced by Kalijodo merchants are the focus of this research. This research uses a qualitative approach by gathering data and information through observation and in-depth interview. The concept of personal and interpersonal conflict and conflict management model by A.Devito (2011) is used in order to get a comprehend understanding of the conflict that rise, and ways to manage it. This research shows that the Kalijodo merchants faced intrapersonal conflict because they were forced to choose between two difficult option, and also interpersonal conflicts that occurs in two waves. The first wave was during the eviction and renovation (conflicts between Kalijodo merchants), and the second wave was from the moment that the renovation is completed until this present time (conflicts between Kalijodo merchants and newcomer merchants from other district). Furthermore, the conflict management that was applied is the conflict management model of accommodation (I lose, You Win). Kalijodo merchants put aside the personal interests in order to make the local government mission accomplished.