From intractable conflict through conflict resolution to reconciliation: Psychological analysis

Intractable intergroup conflicts require the formation of a conflictive eth os that enables a society to adapt to the conflict situation, survive the s tressful period, and struggle successfully with the adversary. The formal t ermination of such a conflict begins with the elimination of the perceived incompatibility between the opposing parties through negotiation by their r epresentatives-that is, a conflict resolution process. But this is only par t of the long-term reconciliation process, which requires the formation of peaceful relations based on mutual trust and acceptance, cooperation, and c onsideration of mutual needs. The psychological aspect of reconciliation re quires a change in the conflictive ethos, especially with respect to societ al beliefs about group goals, about the adversary group, about the ingroup, about intergroup relations, and about the nature of peace. In essence, psy chological reconciliation requires the formation of an ethos of peace, but this is extremely difficult in cases of intractable conflict. Political psy chologists can and should work to improve the state of knowledge about reco nciliation, which until now has received much less attention than conflict resolution.