The Dual Effect of COVID-19 on Intergroup Conflict in the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way human beings interact, both as individuals and groups, in the face of such a widespread outbreak. This paper seeks to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on intergroup emotions and attitudes within an intractable intergroup conflict, specifically, through the lens of the Korean conflict. Using a two-wave, cross-sectional design, this study was able to track the profound psychological changes in intergroup emotions and attitudes both prior to the pandemic and during its onslaught. Results of these two wave representative samples show that South Korean citizens demonstrated higher levels of fear of their neighbors in North Korea after the outbreak of COVID-19 than before. In turn, this led to increased societal support of hostile government policies towards North Koreans. Conversely, the same participants exhibited higher levels of empathy towards North Koreans during the pandemic, which led to a higher willingness to collaborate with their outgroup. This dual effect on intergroup emotions within intractable conflicts brings forth new avenues from which societies may be able to restrain the destructive influence of the COVID-19 threat on intergroup relations — as well as harvesting its constructive potential for reconciling warring intergroup relations.

Communicating Concerns, Emotional Expressions, and Disparities on Ethnic Communities on Social Media During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Structural Topic Modeling Approach

“…These imply that contextually induced conflicts commonly existed for Asian and Native American groups during the pandemic. Such conflicts would potentially increase hostility toward these two groups ( Nir et al, 2022 ) and reduce the financial and health aids they could receive from society during the pandemic ( Adler et al, 2022 ; Politi et al, 2021 ). Our findings thereby advocate for monitoring public opinion and sentiment online to better cope with the disparities in reality during the pandemic.…”

How Do Pandemic Policies and Communication Shape Intergroup Outcomes? Initial Findings From the COVID-19 Pandemic and Open Questions for Research and Policy

“…At the same time, there are some similarities across studies (e.g., the use of self-report measures). To reduce the likelihood that extraneous factors shaped findings, we do not review studies that simply examined attitude or belief changes over time (e.g., from before to after the pandemic) without clear reference to specific policies (e.g., Golec de Zavala et al, 2021; Nir et al, 2022; Reeskens et al, 2021). This approach allowed us to draw clearer conclusions regarding the potential impact of policies on intergroup outcomes.…”

Public Preferences for Intergroup Assistance in Conflicts Facing Joint External Threats: Lessons From COVID-19 in Israel

“…Several explanatory mechanisms underlie this expectation. First, a shared threat can increase empathy and solidarity with out-group members undergoing similar negative experiences and implications (Adam-Troian and Bagci 2021; Nir, Halperin, and Park 2022). This sense of shared fate can weaken perceived intergroup divisions and help establish superordinate identities and trust (De Juan and Hänze 2021; Flade, Klar, and Imhoff 2019; Giannakakis and Fritsche 2011; Pyszczynski et al 2012).…”

“…Yet this general tendency can reflect two distinct motivations. On the one hand, a common threat can establish feelings of shared fate, solidarity, and superordinate identities (Adam-Troian and Bagci 2021; De Juan and Hänze 2021; Flade, Klar, and Imhoff 2019; Giannakakis and Fritsche 2011; Nir, Halperin, and Park 2022; Pyszczynski et al 2012). In this case, past animosities should fade and out-group members should seem worthy of assistance similar to in-group members.…”