Israeli Identity, Thick Recognition and Conflict Transformation

The divisive and malleable nature of history is at its most palpable in situations of intractable conflict between nations or peoples. In these circumstances, how each party interprets or appropriates historical accounts informs their understanding of the roots of the conflict as well as how they relate to and interact with their adversaries. This book aims to advance our understanding of the significance of history in informing the relationship between parties involved in intractable conflicts through the concept of thick recognition and by exploring its relevance specifically in relation to Israel. It suggests that the recognition of crucial identity elements, such as widely shared understandings of history, might increase the potential for relationship transformation in intractable conflicts. More widely, the book discusses how the Israeli debates over New History can be understood as related to processes of conflict transformation as well as seeking answers to what can be seen as facilitating and inhibiting circumstances for the introduction of new understandings of history in the debates on Israeli New History.

Lisa Strombom received her Ph D from the Department of Political Science, Lund University, Sweden, in 2010. Since then she has served as assistant professor and acting director for peace and conflict research at the Department of Political Science, Lund University. She teaches International Relations, Conflict Resolution, Identity Politics and Research methods. She has published in journals including the European Journal of International Relations, Mediterranean Politics, The European Legacy, and Peacebuilding.