Findings of
surveys conducted among Serb and Albanian population indicate that each of the two
communities hold its own people in high esteem and that both of them have identically
negative stands and stereotypes about the other. This phenomenon is known as "the
mirror image phenomenon."
Some questions and comments by students:
1. All democratic states are threats to humanity.
2. Do you believe there would be no more conflicts in democratic
societies one fine day?
3. Do you think a human being is basically a violent creature?
"We and Them; Group (Ethnic) Conflicts and Pacification
Procedures" (Lecturer: Tamara Tomasevic)
What is identity? What is it that determines us? Should, say, a
"demon" let you keep just one of our identities and take away the rest, what
identity would you keep? Would it be your professionalism, parenthood, familial ties,
ethnic origin, religion or education? It's hard to choose only one trait determining your
person because, as human beings, we are characterized by many identities. What is it other
people would not let us do or be? Is it possible to deny one his or her gender or origin
or religion that differs from others? Can others deny you the language you speak that
differs from theirs?
What is discrimination and what are its origins? Discrimination stands
for a departure from norms a society sees either as welcome or unwelcome. Bias and
stereotypes about others give rise to discrimination. Discrimination can lead to social
problems that are by far more serious than exclusion of an individual departing from
mainstream behavior or norms. Gossip about a group of people or an individual is the first
stage of a conflict. Then comes this group's or individual's exclusion or avoidance.
Discrimination on the grounds of which a group or an individual are deprived of some
rights in the next stage that leads towards a conflict between "them and us." In
its most brutal form a conflict leads to genocide. |
