In these times of growing insecurity, widening inequities and deepening crisis for civilized governance,
Recognition as Key for Reconciliation offers meaningful and provocative thoughts on how to advance towards a more just and peaceful future. From the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict we learn of “thin” and “thick” recipes for solutions. Beyond the Middle East region we learn from studies around the globe: South Africa, Northern Ireland and Armenia show the challenges to genuine recognition of our very human connection to each other, and that this recognition is essential for any sustainable positive security for all of us.
Contributors are Deina Abdelkader, Gregory Aftandilian, Dale Eickelman, Amal Jamal, Maya Kahanoff, Herbert Kelman, Yoram Meital, Victoria Montgomery, Paula M. Rayman, Albie Sachs and Nira Yuval-Davis.
Yoram Meital is professor at the Department of Middle East Studies, and Head of the Chaim Herzog Center for Middle East Studies and Diplomacy, both at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. He has written on a wide range of research topics that pertain to Arab societies during the modern era. He has published four books, including
Revolutionary Justice: Special Courts and the Formation of Republican Egypt (Oxford University Press, 2017).
Paula M. Rayman, PhD, is Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of the Middle East Center for Peace, Development and Culture and the Peace and Conflict Studies Program, University of Massachusetts Lowell. She was Director of the Radcliffe Public Policy Institute, Harvard University and author of many research publications on gender equity in STEM fields, women and conflict resolution and dignity at work issues.
"This collection offers a sustained and compelling analysis of the centrality of ‘recognition’ to processes of reconciliation and social repair in the wake of conflict. Exploring from different disciplinary perspectives the potential for ‘recognition’ in particular times and places, the book argues that rather than wait for political settlements from above – critical as these are – everyone must strive in their everyday practice to ‘recognise’ the Other and, in so doing, realise their own dignity. A bold dream, perhaps, but one never more needed than at present."
Hastings Donnan, Queen’s University Belfast
"If you believe, like most Israeli Jews, that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be settled by negotiations between leaders to achieve a minimal political-territorial settlement that lets Israel disengage from the Palestinians and the Arab region and fully join the West, you will and should face the challenge of the book
Recognition as Key for Reconciliation."
Prof. Sammy Smooha, University of Haifa
“This book clearly adds a substantive contribution to our understanding of conflict resolution, adds to the literature on peace studies, and is a recognition of the importance of social psychology to international relations.”
Sanford A. Silverburg,
Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online 6.56.5 (May 2018).
1
Sticking Point in Israel–Palestine Peace Talks: ‘Thick’ and ‘Thin’ Recognition Yoram Meital
2
Mutual Recognition of the Other’s National Identity: The Essential Ingredient of Israeli–Palestinian Peace and Reconciliation Herbert Kelman
3
Is the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict Resolvable? Ethical Transformative Recognition and Conflict Resolution Amal Jamal
4
Collective Trauma, Recognition and Reconciliation in the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict Maya Kahanoff
Part 2: Beyond
5
Multiculturalizing Citizenship: Recognition, Political Agency and Marginalized Groups Victoria Montgomery
6
On Recognition: The First Steps to Democratization and the Case of the Egyptian Revolution Deina Abdelkader
7
Recognizing the Armenian Genocide: Closing Long Festering Wounds Gregory Aftandilian
PART 3: Towards Transformative Recognition
8
Recognition, Intersectionality and Transversal Politics Nira Yuval-Davis
Epilogue: Recognition in Its Place Dale F. Eickelman
Index
All interested in creating opportunities for learning, teaching and activating possibilities for advancing social justice and positive peace in conflicted arenas: from local communities and intra-state strife to global confrontation.