Addressing disputes in a coalition framework: The case of agriculture and the environment

A coalition framework is proposed to address the contentious issues facing agriculture and the environment in urbanising areas, by bringing stakeholders together in homogeneous focus groups to identify areas of common interests, and then in heterogeneous groups to validate the results of the framework. Such a framework encourages greater understanding, consensus building, the resolution of conflicts, and the establishment of coalition efforts in areas of mutual interest and agreement by allowing stakeholder groups collectively to pursue agenda-building on issues of common interests. Based on the authors' observation of the process over an 18-month period, it is encouraging that the coalition framework is an appropriate strategy for building consensus among diverse audiences.