Relationship building, activism, and conflict resolution — A case study on the termination of licensed prostitution in Taipei City

Abstract

This paper integrates the theories of models of public relations, relationship building, activism, and conflict resolution for the purpose of examining how an organization deals with conflicts with activist groups and how an activist group empowers itself by using the coalition‐building strategy. The author employs a case study involving the termination of public prostitution in Taipei, Taiwan. The paper offers four propositions: 1) without strategic management and effective identification of issues and publics, an organization will easily escalate the existing conflicts among the parties involved; 2) in a conflict between parties with unbalanced power, the one with more power should maintain symmetrical communication with the other party and reach a mutually satisfactory agreement; 3) assurance of legitimacy and sharing of tasks in relationship maintenance will smooth a conflict and build trust among parties involved; 4) correctly chosen coalitions will empower the “small and weak” activist group and gain more winning opportunities.