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 sociopsychological repertoire supporting
peacemaking
• Institutionalization of an alternative sociopsychological repertoire supporting
peacemaking
• Competition of the alternative repertoire with the
conflict supporting repertoire
• Emergence of the alternative sociopsychological 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 Sociopsychological 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
Societies
The socio-psychological repertoire
supporting the continuation of the conflict is
hegemonic and well institutionalized.
This repertoire is consensual
Leaders 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).
.
Conditions that Facilitate or Hamper the
Emergence of the Beliefs - (internalconflict, 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 Sociopsychological 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 Beliefs
Conviction 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
Societies
Ripeness by the society members
Increasing awareness of the costs in continuing the
conflict
Acceptance of the new repertoire by significant
segments of the society
Polarization in the society
Contents of the Institutionalized Beliefs
Emergence 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 - (internalconflict, 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