EASP Summer School 2010

Daniel Bar Tal, Tel Aviv University
Karen Trew, Queen's University Belfast

The focus of the workshop is on macro level destructive intergroup conflicts involving societies and ethnic groups, but the contents have great relevance for the understanding of other types of intergroup conflicts which take place as well on other levels. The macro level inter societal conflicts take place continuously in various parts of the globe because they are inherent part of human life. But some of them are of intractable nature threatening the well being of the peoples involved and the international community at large. The intractable conflicts in Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Northern Ireland, or the Middle East are examples of such severe, violent and prolonged confrontations and therefore enormous efforts are exerted to resolve them peacefully.

The workshop will offer a conceptual framework that sheds an illuminating light into the psyche of the society members involved in conflicts. This framework focuses on the socio-psychological repertoire that evolves in groups or societies involved in conflicts and which plays a determinative role in its dynamics. Specifically, this repertoire influences the nature of social reality about the conflict that society members construct, the involvement with and mobilization of society members for the conflict, the sense of solidarity and unity they experience, the conformity expected from society members, the pressure exerted on leaders, and the direction of action taken by the leadership. In addition, the framework describes the changes in the socio-psychological repertoire that are necessary to ignite the peace process, the conditions that are needed for it and the processes that can facilitate it. Finally, it elaborates on the nature and the processes of peace building, including conflict resolution and reconciliation.

Thus the workshop will describe a full cycle- beginning with the outbreaks of conflicts and finishing with their resolution and peace building through reconciliation process. It will involve lectures, discussions, projects and reading materials.

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