Chapter 13: Conflict and Peacemaking

Conflict emerges from multiple sources including social dilemmas, where rational individual self-interest produces collectively harmful outcomes exemplified by the prisoner's dilemma and tragedy of the commons. Competition for scarce resources, perceptions of injustice rooted in equity norms, and systematic misperceptions including mirror-image attributions and stereotyping all fuel hostile escalation. The chapter presents four primary peacemaking approaches grounded in empirical research. Contact reduces prejudice most effectively when it involves equal-status interaction and personal relationship formation that decreases anxiety and builds empathy. Cooperation creates unity through shared external threats and superordinate goals that require joint effort, as demonstrated in classic field experiments where former adversaries unite when facing common challenges. Communication strategies including bargaining, mediation involving neutral third parties who facilitate integrative agreements, and arbitration offer structured pathways to resolution. When hostility levels prevent productive dialogue, graduated reciprocated initiatives in tension reduction provide a de-escalation mechanism that appeals to reciprocity norms while maintaining security. The chapter concludes by addressing the fundamental tension between individualistic values emphasizing personal freedom and communitarian perspectives prioritizing collective welfare, arguing that sustainable peace requires balancing individual rights with community safety and stability.