Polarisation, conflicts and tensions

Through the dynamics of polarisation, increasingly extreme views regarding the superiority of the ingroup and deficiencies or worse of the outgroup gain credence and power among group members, thereby reinforcing polarisation in a dysfunctional feedback loop.9 Brandsma notes that bystanders exist in the midst of polarised groups: people who do not hold extreme views about either group and who are trying to remain neutral. He recommends drawing attention to, strengthening and giving platforms to those occupying the ‘middle ground’. He argues that these actions will reduce the recruitment power of the extreme views, provide examples of ‘middle-ground thinking’, and give others permission to think this way by ‘making grey thinking okay’. It is important to note here that middle-ground thinking is not the same as ‘mainstream thinking’; the extremism of the centre has shown how institutionalised agents can (directly or indirectly) initiate polarisation and marginalise middle-ground thinking.

Polarisation, conflicts and tensions

While conflicts and tensions are normal, the escalation of conflicts, which leads to extremism, intolerance and violence, is problematic. Social polarisation can be understood as an already advanced escalation of conflict, which can no longer be overcome with the usual democratic discussion and negotiation processes because the fronts are already hardened. Socio-psychologically, polarisation and conflict are the norm rather than the exception; polarisation and conflict are inevitable social phenomena. Bart Brandsma suggests that “peace is a long series of conflicts that we have dealt with successfully.”10 He offers an iceberg model with conflict and polarisation divided by the waterline, conflict above and polarisation below. Perhaps a volcano image is also helpful: the deep, dynamic foundation of the volcano (polarisation) is always present, while the volcanic mountain can lie dormant or erupt (conflict),

9- Pettigrew, T. F., & Tropp, L. R. (2011); Diamond, A. (2007); Davies, L. (2014). 10- Brandsma, B. (2017), p.65.