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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. Peace Education in the Midst of Conflict: Its nature and its challenges. May, 2011. gsalomon@research.haifa.ac.il http://edu.haifa.ac.il/personal/gsalomon/index.htm. Two Implications.

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

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  1. 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 gsalomon@research.haifa.ac.il http://edu.haifa.ac.il/personal/gsalomon/index.htm

  2. Two Implications 1. Deligitimization and dehumanization of the other side

  3. The Main Goals of Peace Education Accept the legitimacy of the “other’s” collective narrative Develop empathy for the “other’s” suffering and fears Develop positive mindsets toward the “Other side” Acknowledge one’s own role in the conflict

  4. Acknowledging one’s own role in the conflict • Develop a more complex identity • Come to see the two sided nature of the conflict

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

  6. Develop positive mindsets toward the “Other side” • Acquire relevant attitudes • Acquire relevant skills & behavior tendencies

  7. Roadblocks facing peace education Barriers facing peace education

  8. 1. Conflicting collective historical memories

  9. 2.Conflicting collective beliefs

  10. Typical (symmetrical!) beliefs We are right and our goals are just They pursue illegitimate goals We are the victims; we only respond Even when we do harm, it is they to blame If they’d only listen to us… we are so moderate They only understand the language of force

  11. 3. Grave inequalities

  12. 4. Excessive emotionality

  13. 5. A Belligerent Environment

  14. Until yesterday I hated them, but now, after I spent a weekend with them, I understand why... A participant in an encounter group “Until yesterday I hated them, but now, after I spent a weekend with them, I understand why...”

  15. Nevertheless…

  16. Non-Participants Participants

  17. But…

  18. t=.0.21, ns t=3.73** Declining impact of the PE program (Rosen, 2006)

  19. Does Friendship Between Adversaries Generalize? (Bar-Natan, 2005) Pretest Posttest Delayed Posttest

  20. the attitudes, perceptions and beliefs it affects are extremely vulnerable to opposing social and political forces Peace education is a subversiveactivity;

  21. Apply a differential approach to the different groups

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

  23. Thank you

  24. 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

  25. 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

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