Social Conflicts and Collective Identities

Despite the ubiquity of conflict, significant gaps remain in our knowledge of what influences its escalation and resolution. How collective identity formation impacts social conflicts is taken up in these compelling case studies, ranging from church and community disputes, ethnic conflicts, environmental disputes, to international trade disputes and wars. Important themes include the dynamics of enemy-imaging, the constructs of race and gender, in-groups and out-groups, and the double-edged potential of collective identity formation to both escalate and de-escalate conflicts. Throughout, social conflicts are presented as potent forces for cultural and political change. The contributors highlight methods for resolving intractable identity-based conflicts, including challenging assumptions about the ‘Other,’ creating inclusive identities, and using various negotiation and mediation venues as catalysts for constructive identity shifts. With its ground-breaking scholarship, Social Conflicts and Collective Identities is sure to become a basic building block for the burgeoning conflict resolution field and for improved understanding of identity dynamics in human conflict.