Escaping the Symbolic Politics Trap: Reconciliation Initiatives and Conflict Resolution in Ethnic Wars

Abstract

Existing approaches to resolving civil wars are based primarily on the assumption that these wars result from conflicts of interest among rational individuals. However, peacebuilding efforts based on this approach usually fail in cases of ethnic civil war, leading sooner or later to renewed fighting. Symbolic politics theory suggests the problem with these peace efforts is that they pay insufficient attention to ameliorating the emotional and symbolic roots of extremist ethnic politics. The theory suggests that resolving ethnic war requires reconciliation–changing hostile attitudes to more moderate ones, assuaging ethnic fears, and replacing the intragroup symbolic politics of ethnic chauvinism with a politics that rewards moderation. The only policy tools for promoting such attitudinal and social changes are reconciliation initiatives such as leaders’ acknowledgement of their sides’ misdeeds, public education efforts such as media campaigns, and problem-solving workshops. Integrating such reconciliation initiatives into a comprehensive conflict resolution strategy, it is argued, is necessary for conflict resolution efforts to be more effective in ending ethnic civil wars.

Rethinking journalism for supporting social cohesion and democracy: case study of media performance in Fiji

“…As such, the latest conflict is not an anomaly, but a new chapter in a long history of conflict at various levels of Solomon Island society (Stratford, n.d.; also see Murray & Storey, 2003). Moreover, scholars like Kaufman (2006) insist that peacebuilding efforts that pay insufficient attention to ameliorating the emotional and symbolic roots of extremist ethnic politics are likely to fail. However, insofar as the media is concerned, the literature suggests that there is not too little, but too much focus on ethnicity, not to mention a perceived fixation on negative news, as in the case of Fiji.…”

Rising Power on the Mind

“…Scholars have also identified the important role for symbolic political efforts, often operating at the individual level, to help members of the public overcome root motivations to sustain conflict. Kaufman 2006. 42.…”

Belfast beyond Violence: Flagging up a Challenge to Local Government?

“…The Belfast case shows us that even in an environment where reform is illustrated and embedded, the role of informal organisational networks and politically aware public managers is vital to conflict management -even if it is not sufficient to result in conflict prevention and a reawakening of tension and violence (Esman, 1999) (Brinkerhoff, 2005). This in itself underlines the concerns of Kaufman (Kaufman, 2006) around the enduring emotional and symbolic roots of ethnic conflict and the need for political processes to reward moderation and reconciliation as transitions unfold. Given that NI is so often used as a model of 'peacebuilding', conflict resolution with the outcome of devolved democracy, this is particularly concerning (Byrne, 2001).…”