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Social Identity and Justice in Violent Conflicts – A Dynamic Model of Intergroup Conflict

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Justice and Conflicts

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Abstract

I propose a five-component model of political inter-group violence. A difficult life situation (social, political and economic inequalities, resource demands, adverse physical circumstances, threats to security, respect and self-determination) provides the background in which perceptions of social injustice tied to social identities arise. Leadership is essential in invoking and reframing these identities and social injustices in relation to both local and international groups and audiences, and thus need to (a) formulate an appealing vision, (b) provide exemplary actions that inspires the group and its supporters (c) justify that no alternative actions are available anymore and (d) therefore, encourage violent actions to emerge. This is likely to lead to a further escalation because the targeted group will retaliate, justifying the action in the first place, aggravating the original grievances and threats, validating the perceived injustices and strengthen and polarise salient identities. Implications for interventions are discussed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The term terrorism is highly debated (e.g., Cooper, 2001; Victoroff, 2005; Wieviorka, 1995; White, 2001) and is often used to serve particular political agendas (Bandura, 2004; White, 2001). Therefore, I will use the term ‘targeted inter-group violence’ when referring to violent behaviour committed by groups in order to advance political agendas by hurting, injuring or threatening targets of another group, whether civilian or otherwise.

  2. 2.

    I refer to perceived injustice, that is psychological feelings, beliefs and perceptions of experienced, observed or attributed injustice. Individuals are likely to differ in these perceptions and these perceptions may not correspond to more objective evaluations of justice or injustice. For sake of simplicity, I will use the term ‘justice’ to denote these subjective perceptions of justice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Ronald Fischer

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  1. Ronald Fischer
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  1. Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Professur Psychologie III, Katholische Universität, Ostenstrasse 25, Ingolstadt, 85072, Germany

    Elisabeth Kals

  2. Fakultät für Pädagogik, Universität der Bundeswehr München, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, Neubiberg, 85577, Germany

    Jürgen Maes

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Fischer, R. (2011). Social Identity and Justice in Violent Conflicts – A Dynamic Model of Intergroup Conflict. In: Kals, E., Maes, J. (eds) Justice and Conflicts. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19035-3_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19035-3_21

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