Conflict Management and the 99 Comic Book
Religion and video games are very similar in many aspects, according to Naif Al-Mutawa, the creator of “The 99” comic book. Al – Mutawa elaborates in his speech about the comic book what super heroes have in common with religious characters of Islam: each of them are orphans, each of them got their powers from above. Moreover, each of them receive their attributes based on a global perception that assess them as good or as bad characters, depending on their acts. Just like superheroes, which are generally considered good, or generally considered bad, religion also acquires negative or positive connotations, based on the facts that characterize it.
As such, the Islam religion is generally considered bad, generator of extremism fanaticism, making disciples and followers who are determined to kill or to commit suicide in the name of this religion, considering that they defend and conserve it. This is how the conflict appears and the misconceptions or the prejudices feed it.
Al – Mutawa explains how sometimes people with egocentric and negative intents take the religion and manipulate it, turning into their weapon for acquiring their plans. This is what he illustrates in “The 99” comic book as well, explaining how the superhero characters are sometimes manipulated because of their super powers. At that point, when manipulation interferes, people start to associate religion with negative connotation, as they are associating the Islamic religion with attacks, suicide bombers, mass murders, etc., committed in the name of the religion.
For determining people to change their repulsion about this religion and for not associating the representatives of the Islamic religion with the bombs attacks or other similar actions, there must be applied a change of perception. And this can solely be done if the representatives of the Islamic religion themselves change their own perception about them. This is the first step in conflict management.
Fenn and Gameson sustain this idea, considering that managing conflicts and change are interlinked for acquiring the success. Referring to business environment, the authors observe that conflicts are dysfunctional, but also to projects (1992). However, this is not the case with the conflicts that might appear as a result of a misinterpretation of religion, as the analyzed video indicates.
Zartman considers that conflict management is a negotiation, which serves the democratic principles and to the open societies (2008). The content of Al – Mutawa’s video is supportive of this consideration, as the speaker sustains that in managing the general perception about Islamic people (of being all Taliban), they must not in any way associate themselves with this group and with its actions. Otherwise, when a group self – identifies as extreme it is dangerous, as Al – Mutawa sustains (2010).
Changing the general perception about a specific aspect implies generating a new, social message, which calls for tolerance, is what Al – Mutawa indicates. Change can be obtained by linking positive things with this religion. The positive aspects of Islamic religion should be underlined in order to generate a general positive reaction, meant to manage the socio – cultural and political conflicts related to Islamism.
This implies a proper communication between different actors, between people belonging to different cultures. A common field of discussion must be created between them in order to communicate efficiently for understanding how the negative perception around the Islamism can change.
References
Al – Mulawa, N. (2010) Naif Al – Mutawa: Superheroes inspired by Islam. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/naif_al_mutawa_superheroes_inspired_by_islam.html.
Fenn, P. & Gameson, R (1992) Construction conflict management and resolution. Chapman &Hall: London.
Zartman, W. (2008) Negotiation and conflict management: essays on theory and practice. Routledge: New York.
