The concept of “conflict field” seeks to take into account not only the “hard” claims usually stated
clearly in public debate but also “softer” and also more profound conflict issues. It bears remembering
that conflict fields represent issues, not motives: They express what the conflict is about, the
subject of communication, and not why the conflict is taking place, i.e., what its causes are (Seul,
1999: 564). Addressing thematic conflict issues also does not prejudice whether actors authentically
address these issues or instrumentalize them for purposes not stated (publicly).
Three domains or facets of culture come into consideration as fields of conflict: Religion, language
and historicity. They can be operationalized, i.e., rendered empirically tangible, using the following
indicators: