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. This book explores the significance of history in informing the relationship between warring parties through the concept of thick recognition and by exploring its relevance specifically in relation to Israel.

"Lisa Strömbom's book deals with the vexed topic of how Israelis remember their history. Memory, she reminds us, is a source of intractable conflicts. Reremembering, and seeking recognition for one's invented recollections, is a means of transforming conflicts and of opening new avenues to co-existence and peace. Strömbom thinks hard, writes well, and provides a fresh take on the most troubling conflict of our era."

Erik Ringamr, Zhi Yuan Chair professor of International Relations, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China

"Lisa Strömbom has produced a very thorough and insightful analysis of the role of history in processes of conflict transformation. She combines the development of a solid theoretical framework for assessing the formation of collective identities with an impressive account of how the 1948 war is remembered in Israel today. Her ground-breaking concept of thick-recognition provides an important lens through which to analyse if and how parties to a conflict move from enmity to mutual acceptance. The study is a must read for anyone who is interested in conflict transformation and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Susanne Buckley-Zistel, Professor in Peace and Conflict Research, Philipps Universität Marburg, Germany

Autorentext
Lisa Strömbom 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.

Inhalt
List of Acronyms Acknowledgements PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Introduction PART II: THEORY 2. Thick Recognition and Conflict Transformation 3. Identities in Conflict PART III: NEW HISTORY 4. Boundaries and Recognition in Israeli Master Narratives 5. Boundaries and Recognition in Israeli Counter Narratives 6. The Challenge 7. The Confrontation PART IV: CONCLUSION 8. Thick Recognition Past and Present References