Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory: Contemporary Global Perspectives

This volume brings together perspectives on social identity and peace psychology to explore the role that categorization plays in both conflict and peace-building. To do so, it draws leading scholars from across the world in a comprehensive exploration of social identity theory and its application to some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as intrastate conflict, uprising in the middle east, the refugee crisis, global warming, racism and peace building. A crucial theme of the volume is that social identity theory affects all of us, no matter whether we are currently in a state of conflict or one further along in the peace process. The volume is organized into two sections. Section 1 focuses on the development of social identity theory. Grounded in the pioneering work of Dr. Henri Tajfel, section 1 provides the reader with a historical background of the theory, as well as its current developments. Then, section 2 brings together a series of country case studies focusing on issues of identity across five continents. This section enables cross-cultural comparisons in terms of methodology and findings, and encourages the reader to identify general applications of identity to the understanding of peace as well as applications that may be more relevant in specific contexts. Taken together, these two sections provide a contemporary and diverse account of the state of social identity research in conflict situations and peace psychology today. It is evident that any account of peace requires an intricate understanding of identity both as a cause and consequence of conflict, as well as a potential resource to be harnessed in the promotion and maintenance of peace. Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory: Contemporary Global Perspectives aims to help achieve such an understanding and as such is a valuable resource to those studying peace and conflict, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, public policy makers, and all those interested in the ways in which social identity impacts our world.

Social identity and peace psychology: An Introduction Reeshma Haji, Shelley McKeown Jones and Neil Ferguson -- Section 1 Theoretical and Contemporary Issues -- Part I: History and development of social identity theory -- 1. Social identity theory Michael A. Hogg -- 2. Towards a Clearer Understanding of Social Identity Theory’s Self-Esteem Hypothesis Sarah E. Martiny and Mark Rubin -- 3. Between the lines of us and them: Identity threat, anxious uncertainty, and reactive ingroup affirmation – how can antisocial outcomes be prevented? Adrian Lüders, Eva Jonas, Immo Fritsche and Dimitrij Agroskin -- Part II: Social identity as a source of conflict and peace -- 4. Identity and Acculturation Processes in Multicultural Societies Sofia Stathi and Claudia Roscini -- 5. Tyranny and leadership Stephen Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam, Michael Platow and Nik Steffens -- 6. Crowd behaviour and collective action Stephen T. La Macchia and Winnifred R. Louis -- 7. The Role of Social Identity in the Recruitment and Reintegration of Child Soldiers Michael G. Wessells -- Part IV: Contemporary issues -- 8. Symbolic reminders of identity Rebekah A. Phillips DeZalia and Scott L. Moeschberger -- 9. Identity and psychological health Orla T. Muldoon, Robert D. Lowe and Katharina Schmid -- 10. Global Climate Change: A Social Identity Perspective on Informational and Structural Interventions Mark A. Ferguson, Rachel I. McDonald and Nyla R. Branscombe -- Section 2 Worldwide Perspectives -- Part I: Africa -- 11. Social Identity Theory as a Theory of Change: The Case of South Africa Ines Meyer, Kevin Durrheim and Don Foster -- 12. Social Identity and Conflict in Northern Uganda Grace Lapwoch and Kennedy Amone- P’Olak -- 13. Representations of Social Identities in Rwanda Sigrun Marie Moss -- Part II: Europe -- 14. Social Identity Theory and Intergroup Conflict in Northern Ireland Neil Ferguson and Shelley McKeown Jones -- 15. Social Identity in a divided Cyprus Charis Psaltis and Huseyin Cakal -- 16. Building national identity in newborn Kosovo: Challenges of Integrating National Identity with Ethnic Identity among Kosovar Albanians and Kosovar Serbs Edona Maloku, Belle Derks, Colette van Laar and Naomi Ellemers -- Part III: North and South America -- 17. Canada, a fertile ground for intergroup relations and social identity theory Richard N. Lalonde, Jorida Cila and Maya Yampolsky -- 18. Social identities and conflict in Chile: the role of historical and political processes Roberto González, Monica M. Gerber and Héctor Carvacho -- 19. Identity, contact, and health among majority and minority ethnic groups in Mexico and Chile Anja Eller, Huseyin Cakal and David Sirlopu -- Part IV: Asia and Australasia -- 20. Social Identity and Peace in the Modern Middle East: Insights from the United Arab Emirates Angela T. Maitner and Robert Stewart-Ingersoll -- 21. Collective and social identities in Philippine peacebuilding: Does a superordinate Bangsamoro social identity mediate the effects of collective ethnic identity? Cristina Jayme Montiel, Ma. Elizabeth J. Macapagal and Jose Jowel Canuday -- 22. “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi”: Situating and Understanding Social Identities in Australia. Siew Fang Law and Cynthia Mackenzie -- Conclusion: The next voyage Shelley McKeown Jones, Neil Ferguson and Reeshma Haji. .