Tamara Deutsch
Symbolic Threats
The underlying causes of conflicts can be symbolic threats. Symbolic threats are threats to a group’s ideology, beliefs, or way of life (Tausch 2) as opposed to realistic threats which are threats to a people’s physical survival. Symbolic threats arise when people of different ideologies come in contact with one another. Instead of accepting their differences while keeping their own values, often one group views the other as a threat to their way of life. Generally, a smaller less developed nation, such as Mexico, fears the interference of a larger more powerful country, such as the U.S. because they have more influence and are known for exporting culture (Stephan pg. 248). On the whole, due to differences in ideology and culture, groups fear symbolic threats to their lifestyle which can lead to conflict.
Many countries perceive the U.S. as a threat to their values and customs because of the pervasiveness of American culture (Stephan 248). The U.S., since it is one of the larger more influential countries, has less anxiety about symbolic threats than smaller more ideological countries (Stephan pg. 248). Examples of this are the Middle East and Mexico, both of which fear that America will change and possibly destroy their core values and beliefs.
One conflict that started as the result of symbolic threats is the conflict between North Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This struggle began hundreds of years ago when King Henry the VIII invaded Ireland and tried to force the Catholic Irish population to convert to Protestantism. This didn’t threaten the actual physical survival of the Irish people but it did threaten their beliefs and customs. For years the Irish people struggled against British rule and in 1922 seceded from the United Kingdom. However, Northern Ireland opted out of the secession beginning another struggle. Both Protestants and Catholics lived in Northern Ireland and both had different ideas on whether Northern Ireland should be part of the Republic of Ireland or stay in the United Kingdom. In 1969 the Irish Republican Army (IRA), a paramilitary group supporting the uniting of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, was born. Northern Ireland became divided: Catholics verse Protestants and those who supported the IRA verse those who didn’t. Both sides feared the other’s influence and they became highly segregated. The IRA has been accused of using terrorism to as means to unite Ireland and many of its units carried guns. Britain deployed troops to North Ireland in 1969 hoping to quell the religious conflicts there, expecting the operation to last no more than a few weeks. It took almost 40 years, the deployment of 300,000 troops, and 3,700 fatalities before the fighting finally ended (NPR Archive Aug. 1). This is a case of a symbolic threat that has started a conflict and escalated almost to the level of a war.
However, while Ireland is a case for symbolic threat causing conflict, it is also a case for hope and an example of how trying to understand one another can lead to peace. On July 28, 2005 the IRA ordered all its units to “dump arms” and to “assist the development of purely political and democratic programs through exclusively peaceful means” (Walsh NPR Archive July 28). All their weapons were decommissioned and turned over to Canadian General de Chastelain who was the Chairman of the Independent International Commission for Decommissioning. After repeated failures to reach a lasting ceasefire, the IRA realized the world’s changed outlook on terrorism, saw the damage they were doing to their own country, and decided to work only through their political arm, Sinn Fein. In response, after 38 years of occupation, the British Army left Northern Ireland in August of 2007 leaving behind only 5,000 men and the police to keep the peace. As of September 2009 the ceasefire still stands and though the IRA didn’t disband it has used only political means to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland the Catholic and Protestant segregation still exists but the barriers are slowly coming down. In a few years this could become a great success story.
Symbolic threats are a cause of great conflict and can incite fear and violence when the threatened people try to protect their way of life whether the threat is actual or not. In the end people need to look beyond their differences and at least tolerate other ways of life. If everyone abides by that rule, then no one will be symbolically threatened and less conflict, and death, will occur.
Works Cited
Tausch, Nicole, et al. "Individual-Level and Group-Level Mediators of Contact Effects in Northern Ireland: The Moderating Role of Social Identification." British Journal of Social Psychology 46.3 (2007): 541-56. Print.
Stephan, Walter G., Rolando Diaz-Loving, and Anne Duran. "Integrated Threat Theory and Intercultural Attitudes: Mexico and the United States." Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 31.2 (2000): 240-9. Print.
Siegel, Robert. “IRA Renounces Violence, Orders Disarmament.” NPR Archives: July 28, 2005
Brand, Madeleine. “IRA Vows to End Violence, Join Political Battle.” NPR Archives: July 28, 2005
Rodgers, Suzanne. “Disarmament Monitor: I.R.A. Weapons Destroyed.” NPR Archives: Sept. 26, 2005
Gifford, Rob. “British Army Exits North Ireland.” NPR Archives: Aug. 1, 2007
Symbolic Threats
The underlying causes of conflicts can be symbolic threats. Symbolic threats are threats to a group’s ideology, beliefs, or way of life (Tausch 2) as opposed to realistic threats which are threats to a people’s physical survival. Symbolic threats arise when people of different ideologies come in contact with one another. Instead of accepting their differences while keeping their own values, often one group views the other as a threat to their way of life. Generally, a smaller less developed nation, such as Mexico, fears the interference of a larger more powerful country, such as the U.S. because they have more influence and are known for exporting culture (Stephan pg. 248). On the whole, due to differences in ideology and culture, groups fear symbolic threats to their lifestyle which can lead to conflict.
Many countries perceive the U.S. as a threat to their values and customs because of the pervasiveness of American culture (Stephan 248). The U.S., since it is one of the larger more influential countries, has less anxiety about symbolic threats than smaller more ideological countries (Stephan pg. 248). Examples of this are the Middle East and Mexico, both of which fear that America will change and possibly destroy their core values and beliefs.
One conflict that started as the result of symbolic threats is the conflict between North Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This struggle began hundreds of years ago when King Henry the VIII invaded Ireland and tried to force the Catholic Irish population to convert to Protestantism. This didn’t threaten the actual physical survival of the Irish people but it did threaten their beliefs and customs. For years the Irish people struggled against British rule and in 1922 seceded from the United Kingdom. However, Northern Ireland opted out of the secession beginning another struggle. Both Protestants and Catholics lived in Northern Ireland and both had different ideas on whether Northern Ireland should be part of the Republic of Ireland or stay in the United Kingdom. In 1969 the Irish Republican Army (IRA), a paramilitary group supporting the uniting of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, was born. Northern Ireland became divided: Catholics verse Protestants and those who supported the IRA verse those who didn’t. Both sides feared the other’s influence and they became highly segregated. The IRA has been accused of using terrorism to as means to unite Ireland and many of its units carried guns. Britain deployed troops to North Ireland in 1969 hoping to quell the religious conflicts there, expecting the operation to last no more than a few weeks. It took almost 40 years, the deployment of 300,000 troops, and 3,700 fatalities before the fighting finally ended (NPR Archive Aug. 1). This is a case of a symbolic threat that has started a conflict and escalated almost to the level of a war.
However, while Ireland is a case for symbolic threat causing conflict, it is also a case for hope and an example of how trying to understand one another can lead to peace. On July 28, 2005 the IRA ordered all its units to “dump arms” and to “assist the development of purely political and democratic programs through exclusively peaceful means” (Walsh NPR Archive July 28). All their weapons were decommissioned and turned over to Canadian General de Chastelain who was the Chairman of the Independent International Commission for Decommissioning. After repeated failures to reach a lasting ceasefire, the IRA realized the world’s changed outlook on terrorism, saw the damage they were doing to their own country, and decided to work only through their political arm, Sinn Fein. In response, after 38 years of occupation, the British Army left Northern Ireland in August of 2007 leaving behind only 5,000 men and the police to keep the peace. As of September 2009 the ceasefire still stands and though the IRA didn’t disband it has used only political means to unite Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland. In Northern Ireland the Catholic and Protestant segregation still exists but the barriers are slowly coming down. In a few years this could become a great success story.
Symbolic threats are a cause of great conflict and can incite fear and violence when the threatened people try to protect their way of life whether the threat is actual or not. In the end people need to look beyond their differences and at least tolerate other ways of life. If everyone abides by that rule, then no one will be symbolically threatened and less conflict, and death, will occur.
Works Cited
Tausch, Nicole, et al. "Individual-Level and Group-Level Mediators of Contact Effects in Northern Ireland: The Moderating Role of Social Identification." British Journal of Social Psychology 46.3 (2007): 541-56. Print.
Stephan, Walter G., Rolando Diaz-Loving, and Anne Duran. "Integrated Threat Theory and Intercultural Attitudes: Mexico and the United States." Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 31.2 (2000): 240-9. Print.
Siegel, Robert. “IRA Renounces Violence, Orders Disarmament.” NPR Archives: July 28, 2005
Brand, Madeleine. “IRA Vows to End Violence, Join Political Battle.” NPR Archives: July 28, 2005
Rodgers, Suzanne. “Disarmament Monitor: I.R.A. Weapons Destroyed.” NPR Archives: Sept. 26, 2005
Gifford, Rob. “British Army Exits North Ireland.” NPR Archives: Aug. 1, 2007
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