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Encountering the Suffering of the Other: Introduction to the present volume
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Post armed conflict societies usually continue to suffer intergroup tensions and de-legitimization of the other group’s collective narratives. This study aimed to explore intergroup relations in the context of post armed conflict between Serb and Albanians in Kosovo. We expected subjective experience of interpersonal power (SEIP) to mediate the relationships between sense of community coherence (SOCC) and perceptions of contradictory collective narratives. Data were collected in Kosovo by self-administered questionnaires among 202 Albanians (87 women) and 122 Serbs (49 women) from 18 to 69 years old. The results confirmed the suggested model and SEIP mediated the relationships between SOCC and perceptions of the in-group and out-groups' collective narratives among both Serb and Albanian participants. The discussion is focused on the roles of SEIP, SOCC, and perceptions of in-group and out-group collective narratives for the maintenance of inter-group tension in a post armed conflict context.
In the present research, we introduce a conceptualization of the Tendency for Interpersonal Victimhood (TIV), which we define as an enduring feeling that the self is a victim across different kinds of interpersonal relationships. Then, in a comprehensive set of eight studies, we develop a measure for this novel personality trait, TIV, and examine its correlates, as well as its affective, cognitive, and behavioral consequences. In Part 1 (Studies 1A-1C) we establish the construct of TIV, with its four dimensions; i.e., need for recognition, moral elitism, lack of empathy, and rumination, and then assess TIV’s internal consistency, stability over time, and its effect on the interpretation of ambiguous situations. In Part 2 (Studies 2A-2C) we examine TIV’s convergent and discriminant validities, using several personality dimensions, and the role of attachment styles as conceptual antecedents. In Part 3 (Studies 3-4) we explore the cognitive and behavioral consequences of TIV. Specifically, we examine the relationships between TIV, negative attribution and recall biases, and the desire for revenge (Study 3), and the effects of TIV on behavioral revenge (Study 4). The findings highlight the importance of understanding, conceptualizing, and empirically testing TIV, and suggest that victimhood is a stable and meaningful personality tendency.
The goal of this study was to explore the contribution to reflexive learning about conflict reality when encountering narratives of the other in intragroup dialogue. That is, dialogue within one national group in the context of a binational conflict. This dialogue was with a group of Jewish-Israeli undergraduate students. The study explored the contribution of the dialogue to the capacity to relate to ongoing conflict relations from perspectives that go beyond binary and oppositional assumptions and positions. This research is based on detailed observations of the dialogue, interviews with group members, and a field diary kept by Michael Sternberg. Findings indicate that, without the immediate need to close ranks in the presence of the outgroup, the intragroup setting supplied opportunities to explore diverse identities, narratives, power structures, and related collective assumptions and to examine alternatives to existing types of conflict engagement. Furthermore, findings indicate the contribution of such processes to the readiness to challenge hegemonic perceptions of conflict reality and cope with the challenges of becoming an active bystander toward the abuse of power relations.
This article presents a new intervention model for intra-group dialogue. Twenty-four Jewish-Israeli undergraduate students underwent a year-long process to learn about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, encountered Palestinian narratives, and reflected on the impact of the Palestinian other on their own identity as Jewish-Israelis. We propose that such a process ameliorates identity threats posed by an inter-group conflict on collective identities, encouraging participants to adopt a more complex view of themselves, which validates both narratives of self and “other.” Research was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the intervention. Results showed that participants developed an increased capacity for acceptance of both Israeli and Palestinian collective narratives, and demonstrated a greater willingness towards reconciliation, manifested in more readiness to acknowledge responsibility and apologize for past transgressions. Discussion is dedicated to the added value of this model, specifically in relation to inter-group contact approaches to dialogue.
Previous theories concerning the “Big Two” dimensions have focused on people’s perceptions and judgments of various social
targets. The research presented in this article extends current theorizing by shedding light on how the targets of these judgments respond, in
terms of motivational outcomes, to being perceived as high or lowon agency or communion. Using the “needs-based model of reconciliation”
we argue that, following transgressions, victimized or disadvantaged individuals or groups experience threats to their agency dimension of
identity, whereas the perpetrating or advantaged individuals or groups experience threats to their communion identity dimension.We review
empirical evidence suggesting that the experience of these threats leads to enhanced motivation to restore these impaired identity dimensions
(i.e., reaffirm the agency or communion of oneself or one’s ingroup).We discuss how insights from reconciliation research can enhance our
understanding of the Big Two dimensions and vice versa and point to the potential for cross fertilization.
This chapter summarises results from a research programme on the psychological basis of tolerance and discrimination in intergroup relations, with particular consideration of the role of superordinate identities. According to the ingroup projection model, a relevant superordinate group provides dimensions and norms for comparisons between ingroup and outgroup. Groups gain positive value or status when they are considered prototypical for the (positively valued) superordinate group. Group members tend to generalise (project) distinct ingroup characteristics onto the superordinate category, implying the relative prototypicality of their ingroup. To the extent that outgroup difference is regarded as a deviation from the ethnocentrically construed prototype it is evaluated negatively. Our research studied consequences and determinants of ingroup projection, as well as moderators of its implications. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the processes involved in intergroup discrimination and indicate new pathways for the reduction of prejudice, towards mutual intergroup appreciation and tolerance.
The authors propose that conflict threatens different psychological resources of victims and perpetrators and that these threats contribute to the maintenance of conflict (A. Nadler, 2002; A. Nadler & I. Liviatan, 2004; A. Nadler & N. Shnabel, in press). On the basis of this general proposition, the authors developed a needs-based model of reconciliation that posits that being a victim is associated with a threat to one's status and power, whereas being a perpetrator threatens one's image as moral and socially acceptable. To counter these threats, victims must restore their sense of power, whereas perpetrators must restore their public moral image. A social exchange interaction in which these threats are removed should enhance the parties' willingness to reconcile. The results of 4 studies on interpersonal reconciliation support these hypotheses. Applied and theoretical implications of this model are discussed.
In A. Mana & A. Srour (Eds.), Israeli and Palestinian collective narratives in conflict: A tribute to Shifra Sagy and her work. Although there is a large body of research about programs that bring together Palestinians and Israelis, little has been written about long term programs. Few full-time residential programs where participants from social groups in conflict live, study, and participate in full-time activities together have been reviewed in the literature. This chapter presents initial results of interviews with alumni of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies who completed their participation between 5 and 25 years ago. The
voices of these alumni - not yet heard - enriches our understanding of the impact of meeting the other in conflict in a setting that allows the formation of deep relationships. In this chapter participants share their belief in the possibility of a shared peaceful existence in a healthy environment made so by working cooperatively on environmental challenges. They open up about their lack of faith in the world around them and they describe the despair they feel about lack of progress towards a peaceful solution in the area. And yet, in spite of that despair, that lack of faith, they continue in small or larger ways to promote the possibility. The alumni emphatically explain that they highly value the experience they had at the Arava Institute and as members in the alumni network. They express an underlying hope and conviction to continue to try to reach their shared goal in spite of everything.
The book explores Applied Phronesis in internet communication technology application such as Facebook and YouTube. It defines two phases for the discourse, episteme and techne. The episteme explores the knowledge of reconciliation in the middle of conflict, Internet communication technologies for transformation, Moderation in Islam, online Deliberative Democracy.
The second phase Techne is explored through Internet communication technology for the advancement of reconciliation in the middle of the conflict. The book describes the development of internet research in academic discourse, exploring mixed-method research design and applying methodological triangulation. In addition, describes Applied Phronesis for bent flyvbjerg in developing internet communication technology applications, introduces the discourse of applying Netnography for Kozinets in research and testing the hypothesis using qualitative content analysis for Krippendorff.
This edited volume brings together alternative and innovative approaches in conflict resolution. With traditional military intervention repeatedly leading to the transformation of entire regions into zones of instability and violence (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria), the study of alternative and less violent approaches to conflict resolution has become imperative. Four approaches are presented here: negotiation, religion and gender, reconciliation and forgiveness, and the arts. This volume contains the insights and experiences of fourteen internationally renowned scholars and practitioners from different contexts. Can forgiveness help heal relationships in post-apartheid South Africa? How can art assist dealing with ‘unrememberable’ events such as the genocide in Rwanda? What transformational resources do women offer in contexts of massive human rights violations? The aim here is twofold: to provide and encourage critical reflection of the approaches presented here and to explore concrete improvements in conflict resolution strategies. In its interdisciplinary and international outlook, this work combines the tried-and-tested approaches from conflict resolution experts in academia, NGOs and civil society, making it an invaluable tool for academics and practitioners alike.
The reader is taken on a journey spanning some 30 years devoted to the author’s involvement in practicing, teaching and studying peace education. The core concept in this journey is active bystandership, which implies the capacity to disengage from our ethnocentric narratives and perceptions and to face the emotional challenges of acknowledging narratives that contradict our collective assumptions about the conflict and accept the moral obligation to address our contribution to violence. The author describes her non-professional as well as her professional activity in academia of participating, initiating, teaching and facilitating peace education projects. She describes inter and intra-group encounters and attempts to identify the limitations and opportunities of each type. Finally, some research methods and results of recent studies in peace education, especially regarding perceptions of collective narratives, are presented and discussed.
Two large-scale surveys conducted in Israel (Study 1A) and the Palestinian Authority (Study 1B) show that the belief by group members that people in the " enemy " group acknowledge their victimhood (i.e., Holocaust and Nakba for Jews and Palestinians, respectively) is associated with Israeli-Jews' readiness to accept responsibility for Palestinian sufferings and offer apologies. For Palestinians, this belief is linked to a perceived higher likelihood of a reconciled future with Israelis. Three field experiments demonstrate that a manipulated high level of acknowledgment of Jewish victimhood by Palestinians (Studies 2 and 4), and of Palestinian victimhood by Israeli-Jews (Study 3) caused greater readiness to make concessions for the sake of peace on divisive issues (e.g., Jerusalem, the 1967 borders, the right of return), and increased conciliatory attitudes. Additional analyses indicate the mediating role of increased trust, and reduced emotional needs in these relationships.
Seeds of Peace is a nongovernmental organization that annually brings together children from the Middle East and various other regions of conflict for a summer camp experience in the woods of Maine, USA. It also operates coexistence centers throughout the world. Founded in 1993, the organization has gained worldwide acclaim for its peace education programs. This fantasy‐theme rhetorical analysis explains Seeds of Peace’s rhetorical vision using Ernest Bormann’s symbolic convergence theory. The analysis suggests that the rhetorical vision constituted by organizational stakeholders and promoted in marketing and promotional publications by Seeds of Peace project peace as something achievable only in the future. The result is an organization that seeks to bring peace to the world, but potentially participates in sustaining conflict in the present. This article considers the ways in which peace institutes and nongovernmental organizations can unknowingly participate, rhetorically, in maintaining a deferred sense of peace because of the ways in which they utilize policymakers’ talk about their organizations’ work.
Vladimir Jankélévitch’s “Diseases of Temporality” and Their Impact on Reconciliatory Processes
- F Ferrari
Reconciliation in the Middle of Dispute. Introduction to the Series
- S Flämig
- M Leiner
Fostering positive relations through respectful encounters: The role of respect in reconciliation processes
- L A Nägler
- N S Harth
- T Kessler
Encountering the Suffering of the Other - Experiences from Palestinians and South Africans Visiting Places of Suffering
- M Leiner
‘Antisemitic’ academic pushed for boycott of Israeli professors
- B Weinthal