Reconciliation

Much recent scholarship in the conflict-resolution field has become focused on the question of what happens, psychologically, when an intractable conflict nears its end and inter-party violence is at least abated. The focus in this analysis is less on how it is possible to end overt conflict and its accompanying violence through some negotiated or mediated agreement, and more on how to ensure that an agreement is kept and previous enemies learn to live together — or at least to tolerate one another. What makes agreements durable, apart from their success in resolving core issues? What can be done to change deep-seated attitudes of resentment, fear, mistrust, anger and hostility to something less damaging? Can one ever change negative and stereotyped images of “the Others” into something more positive that enables at least a basic level of cooperation? Most importantly, how is it possible to achieve reconciliation between former enemies, and what is meant by “reconciliation”?1