In situations of intractable political conflict (e.g., in Israel–Palestine or the Basque region) social identification is of pivotal importance (e.g., Bar-Tal, 2007; Coleman, 2003; Kelman, 1999). The identities that underlie such conflicts are typically presented as oppositional (e.g., Arab and Jew or Basque and Spanish) and negatively interdependent (Kelman, 1999). However, even in situations of violent inter-group conflict and highly pervasive social divisions, other identities and categories coexist and the literature can be criticized for overemphasizing unitary social categorizations.
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© 2012 Robert D. Lowe and Orla Muldoon
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Lowe, R.D., Muldoon, O. (2012). ‘Unexpected’ and ‘Inclusive’ Social Identities in Intractable Conflict: The Case of Northern Ireland. In: Gibson, S., Mollan, S. (eds) Representations of Peace and Conflict. Rethinking Political Violence series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137292254_10
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