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Why do people fight and die? Why does violence become the only solution to a problem for some groups and not for others?
In many cases, a strong sense of social identity—whether rooted in religion, ethnicity, or national identity—can fuel a fight for survival. For example, fighters today in places such as Syria, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, and Ukraine rationalize violence as the only way to meet perceived threats against their identity group. In other regions of the world, neighboring identity groups have managed to exist peacefully and rarely, if ever, engage in intergroup violence.
Daniel Rothbart and Karina Korostelina explore the role of social identity and identity politics in violent conflict. They discuss current methods being used to reduce or possibly eliminate hostilities that arise among different identity groups around the world.
Rothbart is a professor and Korostelina is an associate professor in the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University.
LOCATION:
S. Dillon Ripley Center
1100 Jefferson Dr SW
Metro: Smithsonian (Mall exit)