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Empathising with the enemy
Transformation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by overcoming psychological and structural obstacles
Stewart A. Mills
Abstract
This thesis seeks to understand fundamental reasons for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and argues necessary steps for its resolution. The primary thesis here advanced is that violent inter-group conflict, such as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, will continue until fundamental psychological and structural obstacles are addressed. Overcoming these obstacles requires the development of psychological 'bridges.' These psychological bridges or conciliatory qualities when applied at the individual and societal level enable the fundamental needs and fears of each party to be addressed.
The first chapter provides an overview of conflict resolution theory, a broad discipline which has developed from psychology, sociology, anthropology, politics, history and law. The results show conflict resolution is traditionally viewed through the paradigms of realism, legalism or idealism. The conclusion of the first chapter is that idealism holds the key to conflict transformation and reconciliation whilst realism and legalism only serve to 'manage' conflict.
The second chapter proposes a general method for conflict resolution. Violent conflict is argued to be a consequence of fundamental need deprivation as such this chapter identifies eight fundamental human needs. The fundamental need system developed in this chapter is based on four fundamental rational needs: control, security, justice and rational stimulation; and four fundamental emotional needs: esteem, meaning, identity and emotional stimulation. What this chapter develops is that the attainment of these fundamental needs provides a sense of peace and reconciliation for an individual.
The second part of chapter two identifies that the attainment of these fundamental needs requires the overcoming of psychological obstacles which are enabled by psychological bridges. Those psychological bridges include five fundamental conciliatory qualities: hope or a belief in the possibility of conflict resolution, empathy of the 'other', nonviolent or inclusive worldviews and the action of building trust; as evidenced by cooperation.
The third part of chapter two identifies the necessity to implement within the structures of society those factors which encourage fundamental need satisfaction. These changes are required within the social, political, religious, legal and economic systems.
The third chapter provides practical approaches to resolving the Palestinian- Israeli conflict. This chapter outlines issues relating to the fundamental needs of meaning, identity, control, security and justice. Analysis is made of agreed and contentious political positions on the issues of security, settlements, Jerusalem, refugees and water, as well as religious, educational and economic issues. The chapter concludes that the Israeli leadership continues to mistrust the Palestinian Authority and as such only superficially demonstrates a movement towards peace. The evidence of a continuation in settlement expansion highlights that the tried and tested Zionist approach of 'getting facts on the ground' is preferable for Zionist interest as it advances future bargaining power. Secondly this chapter concludes that the Palestinian community needs to address elements which perpetuate threats and breaches of security within the Israeli Jewish community.
The final chapter makes a number of research implications which include commenting on the gap between theory and practice on successive Israeli governmentís approach to settlements within the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This chapter also identifies the need for future research to provide further evidence for the general method of conflict resolution developed in chapter two. Research is also suggested for a number of aspects of the fundamental needs of the Jewish, Palestinian and Arab communities. In particular recommendation is made for further tests of the hypothesis that resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli-Arab conflict requires Arab and Palestinian assurance that the Jewish community will enjoy security in the region.
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