United Kingdom  

Please join the us for an urgently-needed interdisciplinary dialogue on successful approaches (if any) to embedding Peacebuiling globally. Social Science, particularly the fields of Psychology, Sociology and Politics, have long been interesting in inter-group conflict and conflict resolution, in various geographic, religious, and historical contexts. The field of Social Psychology, and within this Peace Psychology, has moved forward an understanding of such conflicts theoretically, but perhaps to a lesser extent in terms of making real-world positive change towards Peace. Likewise more political or critical sociological approaches may highlight key priorities, trends, and areas of weaknesses, but evidence and evaluation or ripples of positive impact from such work on the ground may be less evident. Conceptions of Peacebuilding, emerging more recently, have shifted the focus from general approaches to inter-group conflict, global general approaches to peace keeping, towards embedded, place-based, grassroots community-led approaches to a more ‘just peace’, alongside and in cooperation with non-governmental organisations, and ideally (although perhaps rarely) top-down local, national and international governmental initiatives. Our aim is to amplify the voice of Peacebuilding in our own organisations, disciplines and regions.

The programme is as follows:

1. Welcome and Introductions (Catherine Lido & Roger Paxton - Moderators, Antonio Kalentzis - Zoom Facilitator)
2. Yulia Nesterova- Educating youth for peace in the context of divisions, conflict, and violence
3. (Maria) Grazia Imperiale & Sahar Alshobaki – Lines4Palestine
4. Kamal Ketuly – The main factors for Refugees and Migrants fleeing to European countries (Iraqi Context)
5.  (TBC)

We will adhere carefully to all BPS Code of Ethics https://www.bps.org.uk/guidelines-and-documents. Namely, respect, competence, responsibility & integrity. We will be implementing careful guidance for safeguarding, and providing onward links for tthose affected by the content.

We encourage participants to donate to third sector charities supporting cross-border peacebuilding efforts, such as https://www.peacedirect.org/