Is it really possible to change ethnic or tribal hatred? Aren modern conflicts just hopeless and intractable?
We believe that ethnic hatred is more of a myth than a reality. Too often, it is the easiest way to talk about protracted conflict situations, especially in the media. But ethnic hatred is almost never the only reason for violence and often not even a primary driving force. Typically economic factors-concerns about getting crops to market, access to health care for children, and so forth-are the catalysts that create the greatest anxiety among people. And when there is no solution to these problems and democratic institutions are weak, it is easy for those who are in power, or want it, to manipulate communities into blaming other ethnic or religious groups for their troubles. When ethnic propaganda has been institutionalised for years it can become entrenched within a society. Transcending the artificial divisions created in this way requires long-term and consistent efforts to shift people’s perception of the ‘other group.’ Often structural reforms are also necessary to eliminate all
