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Peace Education in the Midst of Conflict: Its nature and its challenges Gavriel Salomon, Center for Research on Peace Education University of Haifa, Israel May, 2011 [email protected] http://edu.haifa.ac.il/personal/gsalomon/ index.htm

Peace Education in the Midst of Conflict: Its nature and its challenges

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Gavriel Salomon, Center for Research on Peace Education University of Haifa, Israel. Peace Education in the Midst of Conflict: Its nature and its challenges. May, 2011. [email protected] http://edu.haifa.ac.il/personal/gsalomon/index.htm. Two Implications. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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  • Peace Education in the Midst of Conflict: Its nature and its challengesGavriel Salomon, Center for Research on Peace EducationUniversity of Haifa, IsraelMay, [email protected]://edu.haifa.ac.il/personal/gsalomon/index.htm

  • 1. Deligitimization and dehumanization of the other side

    Two Implications

  • Develop empathy for the others suffering and fearsAcknowledge ones own role in the conflictDevelop positive mindsets toward the Other sideAccept the legitimacy of the others collective narrative

  • Acknowledging ones own role in the conflict Develop a more complex identity Come to see the two sided nature of the conflict

  • Empathy Come to understand the other side Come to feel the other side Humanize; reduce stereotypes & prejudices

  • Develop positive mindsets toward the Other side Acquire relevant skills & behavior tendencies Acquire relevant attitudes

  • Roadblocks facing peace educationBarriers facing peace education

  • 1. Conflicting collective historical memories

  • 2. Conflicting collective beliefs

  • Typical (symmetrical!) beliefs We are right and our goals are justThey pursue illegitimate goalsWe are the victims; we only respondEven when we do harm, it is they to blameIf theyd only listen to us we are so moderateThey only understand the language of force

  • 3. Grave inequalities

  • 4. Excessive emotionality

  • 5. A Belligerent Environment

  • Until yesterday I hated them, but now, after I spent a weekend with them, I understand why...

    A participant in an encounter groupUntil yesterday I hated them, but now, after I spent a weekend with them, I understand why...

  • Nevertheless

  • Non-ParticipantsParticipants

    Chart1

    26.45.4

    379.6

    0.71.1

    2.36.7

    Posttest

    Pretest

    Percent of "positive Peace" (N=819) (Biton, 2002)

    Sheet1

    PalestiniansIsraelisPalestiniansIsraelis

    Posttest26.4370.72.3

    Pretest5.49.61.16.7

    Sheet2

    Sheet3

  • Chart1

    26.852

    3230

    Participants

    Non-Participants

    Percent advocating war as a strategy for peace (Biton, 2002)

    Sheet1

    PosttestPretest

    Participants26.832

    Non-Participants5230

    Sheet1

    00

    00

    Participants

    Non-Participants

    Percent advocating war as means for peace (Biton, 2002)

    Sheet2

    Sheet3

  • Does Friendship Between Adversaries Generalize? (Bar-Natan, 2005)

    Pretest Posttest

  • But

  • Declining impact of the PE program (Rosen, 2006)

  • Does Friendship Between Adversaries Generalize? (Bar-Natan, 2005) Pretest PosttestDelayed Posttest

  • Peace education is a subversive activity;

    the attitudes, perceptions and beliefs it affects are extremely vulnerable to opposing social and political forces

  • What then would make peace education effective during conflict?

  • Our challenge today is not just to create changes of perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors, but to learn how to sustain them over time and against opposing forces

    *

  • Apply a differential approach to the different groups

  • JEWSARABS

    StrengtheningOnes own Collective N.

    LegitimizngThe others Collective N.

    One size does not fit all

    *

  • Create a social ripple effect: Multiply the number of peace education partners

  • Thank you

  • So, does peace education make a difference? Yes, it does, even during outbursts of violence Effects disappear after a short while Effects are moderated by initial views Peace Education may be a barrier against deterioration Strong positive emotions appear to support change

  • We all walk on our own path, but it is when we step off that path that we really get to know each other! Arundel Begbie

    *************************************