Conflict Resolution from Cultural and Emotional Aspects: The Case of Israeli-Palestinian Young Politicians Peace Dialogue Programme
HAAPAKOSKI, HANNA (2010)
HAAPAKOSKI, HANNA
2010
Kansainvälinen politiikka - International Relations
Yhteiskuntatieteellinen tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2010-12-08
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21071
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-21071
Tiivistelmä
This thesis discusses unofficial, track three, possibilities in conflict resolution and studies conflict resolution from cultural and emotional aspects. The subject is illustrated by a case study of an Israeli-Palestinian grassroots peace programme called Young Politicians Peace Dialogue. My research question is, whether or not the Young Politicians Peace Dialogue programme is able to create a degree of shared reality among its participants. Moreover, I want to examine what are the practices and processes that enable the creation of shared reality. In addition to the cultural aspect, i.e. the creation of a shared reality, this study discusses the role of emotions in an inter-group conflict resolution process.
This study draws on theories of cultural conflict resolution that are combined with social psychological approaches about the role of emotions in protracted conflicts. The model of problem-solving workshop conflict resolution is used as a framework for this thesis. The focus of this study is on empirical work, which has been conducted in Israel and the Palestinian territories in 2008. Data consists of project reports, evaluations and interviews.
The analysis shows that the participants of Young Politicians Peace Dialogue programme highly value the process as a means of building peace at the grassroots level. The programme increases understanding of the enemy on cognitive and emotional levels. In the programme, the parties have an opportunity to discuss mutual fears, prejudices, stereotypes and interests, as well as innovate solutions to the conflict and learn some conflict resolution skills. The purpose of the programme is to influence young politically active individuals in order to begin a peaceful change in the young generation.
This thesis shows that inter-group interaction in a controlled environment is an effective way of increasing understanding and promoting the creation of shared reality, which is the foundation of cultural conflict resolution. The Young Politicians Peace Dialogue programme, which is reminiscent of the problem-solving workshop conflict resolution model, is able to evoke a degree of change in the young generation at the grassroots level.
Key words: Middle East conflict, Israel, Palestine, cultural conflict resolution, emotions, problem-solving workshop conflict resolution
This study draws on theories of cultural conflict resolution that are combined with social psychological approaches about the role of emotions in protracted conflicts. The model of problem-solving workshop conflict resolution is used as a framework for this thesis. The focus of this study is on empirical work, which has been conducted in Israel and the Palestinian territories in 2008. Data consists of project reports, evaluations and interviews.
The analysis shows that the participants of Young Politicians Peace Dialogue programme highly value the process as a means of building peace at the grassroots level. The programme increases understanding of the enemy on cognitive and emotional levels. In the programme, the parties have an opportunity to discuss mutual fears, prejudices, stereotypes and interests, as well as innovate solutions to the conflict and learn some conflict resolution skills. The purpose of the programme is to influence young politically active individuals in order to begin a peaceful change in the young generation.
This thesis shows that inter-group interaction in a controlled environment is an effective way of increasing understanding and promoting the creation of shared reality, which is the foundation of cultural conflict resolution. The Young Politicians Peace Dialogue programme, which is reminiscent of the problem-solving workshop conflict resolution model, is able to evoke a degree of change in the young generation at the grassroots level.
Key words: Middle East conflict, Israel, Palestine, cultural conflict resolution, emotions, problem-solving workshop conflict resolution