Societal-Psychological Dynamics of Evolvement of Repertoire Supporting Peace Making: A

Conceptual Framework

Daniel Bar-Tal, Shir Landman, Tamir Magal and Nimrod Rosler

Proposition

Societies involved in intractable conflicts evolve a functional socio-psychological repertoire supporting the conflict that helps them to meet the challenges of the conflict

This repertoire provides a biased and one sided view about the nature of the mutual relations, justifies the goals of the conflict, presents the rival in very negative ways with even delegitimizing terms and portrays own group with positive and glorifying labels as well as being the only victim of the conflict.

Research Questions • What is the process of changing

consensual shared repertoire supporting conflict with repertoire supporting peace making in societies which are involved in intractable conflict and develop dominant culture of conflict?

• What are the facilitating and inhibiting factors in this process?

The Process of Changing Shared Repertoire Supporting the Conflict

• Emergence of an alternative socio-psychological repertoire supporting peacemaking

• Legitimization of an alternative socio-psychological repertoire supporting peacemaking

• Institutionalization of an alternative socio-psychological repertoire supporting peacemaking

• Competition of the alternative repertoire with the conflict supporting repertoire

• Emergence of the alternative socio-psychological repertoire supporting peacemaking as dominant and even hegemonic.

Criteria for Examination of the Stages

• State of the conflict • Socio-psychological state of the

involved societies• Contents of the emerging beliefs• Characteristics of the individuals and

groups who emerge the alternative beliefs (status, ideology, values, motivations)

• Conditions that facilitate or hamper the emergence of these beliefs (internal factors, conflict features, external ones)

Emergence of the Alternative Socio-psychological Repertoire Supporting

Peacemaking

Emergence of beliefs about the necessity resolve the conflict peacefully

Process of Emergence

• 1. Emergence of sporadic ideas by individuals (instigated by external event or own thoughts)

• 2. Awareness among these individuals that there are other society members with the same beliefs

• 3. Attempts to organize group(s) society members around the beliefs

• 4. Attempts to persuade the society members and disseminate the alternative beliefs

Examination of the Conditions State of the Conflict

Intensive and violent Socio-Psychological State of the

Involved SocietiesThe socio-psychological repertoire supporting the continuation of the conflict is hegemonic and well institutionalized. This repertoire is consensualLeaders support this repertoire as well as the political establishment and the elites. The society is fully mobilized to support the continuation of the conflict

Contents of the Emerging Beliefs-General-Specific approach to solution------General contents refer to the need to change the conflict situation in the direction of peace making----Specific contents refer to how resolve the conflict peacefully-Based mostly on moral consideration with possible instrumental arguments

-Ingroup goals are taken into consideration-Negation of violence- focus on universal values of justice which takes into consideration rival’s needs and goals.-Rival is human and can be trusted

Characteristics of the Individuals and Groups who Emerge the New Beliefs - (ideology, values, motivations, status)Individuals (non-organized), "early risers" (Tarrow, 1998)- educated and having universal orientation and sensitivity. Usually belong to elite groups (such as intellectual elites), have access to resources, are not a part of the political mainstream. They are perceived as radical and provocative, sometimes even condemned as traitors (McAdam, 1986, 1989).

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Conditions that Facilitate or Hamper the Emergence of the Beliefs - (internal-conflict, external)Depends mostly on the characteristics of the initiating group.

Climate in the ingroup

State of the conflict

Accumulated experiences of society members

International climate

Possible partner on the rival’s side

Emergence of the Alternative Beliefs

Dr. Conn and Mrs. Patricia McCluskey

John Hume, Austin Currie, Paddy O'Hanlon and Bernadette Devlin

Legitimization of the Alternative Socio-psychological Repertoire Supporting

Peacemaking • Legitimization is a stage in which ideas,

actions, or agents become morally acceptable in view of the norms and values of the group (Jost & Major, 2001; Kelman, 2001) .

Process of Legitimization • 1. Legitimization of the initiators of the

beliefs

• 2. Legitimization of the peace discourse (contents)

• 3. Legitimization of the emerging group (peace movement)

• 4. Legitimization to contest the hegemonic repertoire

Examination of the Conditions State of the Conflict

Continuation of the conflict Socio-Psychological State of the Involved Societies• Still domination of the repertoire supporting the

continuation of the conflict • Some level of exposure to the new emerging

ideas by society members • Emergence of groups which are identified with

the emerging beliefs• Beginning of prevalence of instigating beliefs

that raise questions about continuation of the conflict (e. g, The conflict has been costly, the goal cannot be achieved, there are new threats)

•

• Appearance of mediating beliefs suggesting that there is a need to change the situation-- There is a need to resolve the conflict peacefully.

• Appearance of the alternative beliefs in cultural and intellectual circles

Contents of the Alternative BeliefsConviction in the necessity to change the

situation

Prevalence of instrumental and utilitarian epistemic basis for the alternative beliefs about the need to make peace- (Moral considerations continue to preoccupy a minority)

Appearance of specific peace plans

Appearance of comprehensive new narrative supporting peace making

Characteristics of the Individuals and Groups who Legitimize the New Beliefs - (ideology, values, SES )

Joining of the "late comers" (Tarrow, 1998).

New figures join the peace movement: more of the mainstream –elites and grass roots.

Beginning of involvement of popular public figures, and initial acceptance of at least part of the new repertoire by political parties.

Emergence of well organized NGOs

Emergence of new accepted identity-peaceniks

Emergence of leadership

Institutionalization of the Alternative Socio-psychological Repertoire

Supporting Peacemaking • Institutionalization indicates

penetration of the alternative beliefs supporting peace making to societal institutions and channels of communication such as formal political system, educational system, cultural products, mass media, and formal leaders. These beliefs are then expressed and reflected by these agents, channels and the institutions.

Process of Institutionalization • Penetration of the new narrative into

often presented information in the media—penetrates into public discourse

• Appearance of the alternative narrative in the formal governmental institutions.

• Leading political figures adopt the narrative

• Major political parties have groups that support the narrative

Examination of the Conditions State of the Conflict

The conflict is moving away from its intractability.

Peaceful horizon appears in concrete terms. Possible negotiations.

Socio-Psychological State of the Involved SocietiesRipeness by the society membersIncreasing awareness of the costs in continuing the conflictAcceptance of the new repertoire by significant segments of the societyPolarization in the society

Contents of the Institutionalized BeliefsEmergence of alternative ethos about the rival , the conflict, peace, past relations and future relations.

Pluralism of proposals for peace solutions

Dominance of the instrumental considerations in the narrative supporting the peaceful resolution of the conflict

Integration of the peace value into the central particular values of the society

Characteristics of the Individuals and Groups who Institutionalize the New Beliefs - (ideology, values, motivations)

• Members of the mainstream• Leaders of the mainstream—well

identified societal leaders of the supporters of peace.

• Major institutions, organizations and NGOs

• Adoption of the ideas by at least significant segments in the major political parties

Conditions that Facilitate or Hamper the Institutionalize of the Beliefs - (internal-conflict, external)

Accumulated negative experiences about the conflict

Awareness that the other side has a parallel process and beginning of contacts and coordination of reciprocal acts

Conclusion The process of changing consensual shared

repertoire supporting conflict with repertoire supporting peace making is---- slow, gradual, nonlinear, can stop in any phase and even regresses, requires adherence and continuous planned activities of the supporting forces, requires emergence of leaders, requires penetration into the institutions and channels of communications of the society, requires reciprocal relations with the rival and support of the international community–

But the process can eventually be successful

Thank You