The Oxford Handbook of Intergroup Conflict

Abstract Social psychologists and peace scholars have both contributed a great deal of knowledge of the factors that enhance or inhibit conflict and the likely effectiveness of practices and interventions that address such conflict. However, contributions from these scholarly communities have grown apart and lack the integration that helped to create the interdisciplinary investigations of early peace research. The Oxford Handbook of Intergroup Conflict brings these perspectives together to encourage a more integrative approach to the study of intergroup conflict and peace. This book offers an extensive overview of critical questions, issues, processes, and strategies relevant to understanding and addressing intergroup conflict. Articles on sources of intergroup conflict examine dynamic processes in intractable conflict, ideological bases of conflict, and processes of delegitimization and moral exclusion. Other articles on the perpetuation of intergroup conflict highlight processes associated with retribution and revenge, group identities, historical memories, victimization, and divergent perspectives between groups in conflict. These articles review strategies for reducing and resolving intergroup conflict using a variety of interventions that may be useful at different stages of conflict, with particular emphasis on strategies such as intergroup contact, dialogues, and interactive problem solving. Finally, the articles survey the ways groups can move beyond conflict, exploring topics such as the prevention of genocide and mass violence, reconciliation, apology and reparation, transitional justice, and approaches to building sustainable peace. A concluding article offers reflections of past and current efforts to bridge social psychological and peace perspectives on intergroup conflict and peace.