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Iulia E. Padeanu
The Role of Managed Contact in Reconciliation and Peace-building
Over the last few years great strides have been made in understanding
the role of intergroup contact in reconciliation. It seems to be one of the
most effective approaches in changing inter-group relations (Pettigrew
and Tropp 2011). The MCT approach aims to solidify and add to the
elements of intergroup contact most conducive to positive engagement,
and as evident in the FACE project, it can change and widen perspectives, promote a better understanding of the various communities, and
draw forgiveness and trust from various participants. It is thus a valuable
tool in promoting reconciliation and aiding peace-building efforts. While
only in its infancy, evidence collected from the first set of participants
involved in the FACE project suggests that even in difficult situations
managed contact can bring about the necessary conditions for the development of forgiveness and trust. Previous studies corroborate these
findings: Tam and Hewstone’s research into trust in Northern Ireland
demonstrates that both direct and extended intergroup contact can bring
about increased intergroup trust and should be utilised in peace-building efforts (Tam et al 2009: 45). Northern Ireland is not the only place
that has benefited from the positive effects of inter-group contact. In the
Balkans, “frequent and good quality contact with members from the perpetrator group predicted forgiveness (positively) and a desire for social
distance (negatively)” (Cehajic et al 2008: 352).
Several other studies in Northern Ireland have produced similar results
and have further illustrated that “contact with friends from the outgroup
was positively associated with higher trust in that outgroup and with
greater willingness to forgive it for any past misdeeds” (Cehajic et al
2008: 354). On a smaller scale, participants in the FACE project have
proved that, after taking part in the initial stages of the programme, even
before contact had been made, trust had been developed, as the ‘other’
group became more familiar. Overall, the groups exhibited a decreased
desire to keep social distance and excitement at the prospect of meeting