This volume brings together perspectives on social identity and peace psychology to explore the
role that categorization plays in both conflict and peace-building. To do so it draws leading
scholars from across the world in a comprehensive exploration of social identity theory and its
application to some of the world¿s most pressing problems such as intrastate conflict
uprising in the middle east the refugee crisis global warming racism and peace building. A
crucial theme of the volume is that social identity theory affects all of us no matter whether
we are currently in a state of conflict or one further along in the peace process. The volume
is organized into two sections. Section 1 focuses on the development of social identity theory.
Grounded in the pioneering work of Dr. Henri Tajfel section 1 provides the reader with a
historical background of the theory as well as its current developments. Then section 2
brings together a series of country case studies focusing on issues of identity across five
continents. This section enables cross-cultural comparisons in terms of methodology and
findings and encourages the reader to identify general applications of identity to the
understanding of peace as well as applications that may be more relevant in specific contexts.
Taken together these two sections provide a contemporary and diverse account of the state of
social identity research in conflict situations and peace psychology today. It is evident that
any account of peace requires an intricate understanding of identity both as a cause and
consequence of conflict as well as a potential resource to be harnessed in the promotion and
maintenance of peace. Understanding Peace and Conflict Through Social Identity Theory:
Contemporary Global Perspectives aims to help achieve such an understanding and as such is a
valuable resource to those studying peace and conflict psychologists sociologists
anthropologists public policy makers and all those interested in the ways in which social
identity impacts our world.
