The failure of the Middle East peace process and structures for conflict

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This study focuses on the role of political elites in addressing the problem of why adurable peace has eluded Israeli Palestine.A theoretical background study was made on the articulation of identity within acivilization. This established identity formation as a political process. To see how themanipulation of the structure within which identity formation processes take place, sixcritical indicators were identified. These are: Manufacturing conditions ofunderdevelopment; Un-integrated social and political systems, and distributive injustice;Fostering cleavages, stereotypical images and political symbolism; Placing issues underthe 'sign of security'; The production of insecurity through the manipulation of identityformation processes; and Monopolising the conflict resolution process.Political elite creation and perpetuation of structures for conflict shows an inherentinability to bring about a lasting peace in a protracted social conflict for conflict hasbecome the source, rather than the outcome of policy formation. As a result this thesiscalls for a more inclusive approach to conflict resolution, one that goes beyond theprocesses of arbitration, mediation, negotiation and facilitation, to include conciliation atgrass roots level between civilizations, sincerely exploring the underlying emotionallegacies of fear, hatred, sorrow and mistrust.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University