metaconflict

English

Etymology

From meta- +‎ conflict.

Noun

metaconflict (countable and uncountable, plural metaconflicts)

1. Conflict over whether or how to engage in a conflict.
   • 1985, Joyce L. Hocker, William W. Wilmot, Interpersonal conflict:

     You face this choice repeatedly throughout a conflict; it is so fundamental that parties often get stuck in cycles of metaconflict — conflicting over whether they will engage one another in the conflict.

   • 1992, Donald L. Horowitz, A Democratic South Africa?, page 27:

     First, the metaconflict places severe constraints on political discourse. Second, it contracts the range of acceptable innovations and future arrangements.