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Precursors of inter-group reconciliation among the youth in Belfast and Vukovar (Croatia) Ankica Kosic (please pronounce Ankiza or Anna) University of Rome , Italy. despite political solutions (e.g., Belfast Agreement of 1998; Andrew agreement, 2006), communities remained separated.
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Precursors of inter-group reconciliation among the youth in Belfast and Vukovar (Croatia) Ankica Kosic (please pronounce Ankiza or Anna) University of Rome, Italy
despite political solutions (e.g., Belfast Agreement of 1998; Andrew agreement, 2006), communities remained separated.
Culture of violence “There are still many riots at interface areas – in summer 2006 it happened that 300 young people gathered and wanted to attack the other community.” (interview Intercomm)
Transcending the divide and the culture of violence among young people • Integrated education • Inter-community work
Participants • 320 students (139 boys and 181 girls) in high schools in Belfast. • M age = 17.77 years. • Protestants (N = 128) • Catholics (N = 174).
Measures Adolescents’ conflict management styles within family -8 items ( = 0.80) - adaptation of Kurdek’s CRSi (Kurdek, 1994) Examples: Trying to find solutions that are acceptable for both sides. Throwing insults and digs. - Adolescents’ constructive conflict management styles Parental communication styles with children – 7 items – Parental non constructive communication styles
Impact of the Troubles– 4 items ( = 0.82) • whether they had any experience of sectarianism and the Troubles • Example: Have you ever been intimidated because of your religion? • Have you ever been injured in a sectarian incident? • Feeling unsafe(e.g., walking outside the neighbourhood, wearing school uniform…) – 3 items ( = 0.82) • Index - Impact of the violence
Cross-community contact: quantity • – 5 items ( = 0.80) • Integrated school • Participation in cross-community projects
Feeling thermometer (1 = extremely unfavourable to 7 (extremely favourable) Inter-group forgiveness – 7 items ( = 0.85) Bogardus social distance scale - 5 items ( = 0.80) – higher scores indicate higher social acceptance Instrumental co-operation propensity towards collaboration and interest in improvement of inter-group relations Example: I am interested in the development of good relations and co-operation with the other community. Index of reconciliation
Table 1. Summary of Moderated Multiple Regression Analyses (R2 = .39; F= 14.50)
Figure 1: Reconciliation as a function of adolescents constructive strategies in conflict management within family and impact of violence.
Figure 2: Reconciliation as a function adolescents constructive strategies in conflict management within family and inter-group contact.
Figure 3: Reconciliation as a function of parental non-constructive communicative styles and impact of violence.
Discussion • Constructive conflict resolution styles within family • more propensity toward reconciliation with the other community, even when the youth do not feel safe in the context.
Croatia • In 1991 conflicts escalated in areas of Croatia populated by large numbers of Serbs. • Vukovar was almost completely destroyed. • about 2000 people were killed or wounded and over 500 ‘disappeared’ (Tanner, 1997).
According to the 2001 census registered population was 31.670. • Croats (57.5%) • Serbs (32.9%) • other minorities (6.28%).
The process of social ‘polarisation’. • separated shops and coffee bars… • parallel institutions, such as local radio stations, sports clubs… • children in schools and kindergartens have been separated into different buildings or classes.
Problems: • people are still trying to find missing members of their families • slow progress of justice • poor economic situation
Study in Croatia • Participants • 277 participants, students at the University in Vukovar and in secondary schools. • average age = 18.32 years • 132 male and 145 female respondents • Croats (N = 154) and Serbs (N = 106).
Measures • Adolescents conflict resolution styles within family - constructive • Parental communication styles with children – non constructive
Impact of the war • Feeling unsafe • Index – Impact of the violence • Cross-community contact - quantity • Participation in cross-community projects
Propensity toward reconciliation Feeling thermometer Inter-group forgiveness Bogardus social distance scale Instrumental co-operation Index of reconciliation
Table 2. Summary of Moderated Multiple Regression Analyses (R2 = .49; F= 18.02)
Figure 4: Reconciliation as a function of adolescents constructive strategies in conflict management within family and impact of violence.
Figure 5: Reconciliation as a function adolescents constructive strategies in conflict management within family and inter-group contact.
Figure 5: Reconciliation as a function of parental non-constructive communicative styles and impact of violence.
Conclusions • Constructive conflict resolution strategies within family • more propensity toward reconciliation with the other community, even when the youth do not feel safe.
