Understanding the spatial dimension of youth intergroup contact in a postaccord society.

Abstract

Understanding how to promote better social relations between groups in divided societies is vital for peacebuilding efforts. Building on the substantial body of research on intergroup contact theory and everyday multiculturalism, the present research aimed to examine how youth in the divided society of Belfast, Northern Ireland, experience social interactions in everyday urban spaces. Ten youth aged 16–18 (n = 2 Protestant females, one Protestant male, four Catholic females, two Catholic males, and one mixed religious background male) were recruited to take part in the research. Everyday contact experiences were explored using photovoice, a participatory method. Following engagement with a series of photography workshops and tasks, youth took part in focus group discussions and later, walking interviews (n = 3) to discuss the factors that influence their social interactions. Five main themes explaining youth contact experiences in context were uncovered: geographical and socioeconomic constraints on space use; group-based spatial cognitions, emotions, and behavior; lived experience and social discourses; markers of identity; and intergroup norms. Taken together, findings highlight key individual and structural processes through which public spaces become used or not by young people from different community backgrounds. Implications for research and practice for promoting intergroup contact and peace in socially divided societies are discussed.