Conflict, peacemaking and the dynamics of humiliation

Abstract

This paper aims to do three things. The first is to present some core aspects of my approach to globalization, humiliation (or ‘outrageous’ displacement) and conflict. The second is to compare my own approach to displacement cycles and conflict with Randall Collins's approach to interaction ritual chains and violence. The third is to see if there is any prospect that a ‘conversation’ between the two approaches might advance our understanding of the triangular relationship between conflict, violence and humiliation. The essence of peacemaking is not the elimination of conflict but the eradication, to the greatest possible degree, of violence and humiliation.

Citation

Smith, D. (2009), "Conflict, peacemaking and the dynamics of humiliation", Caforio, G. (Ed.) Advances in Military Sociology: Essays in Honor of Charles C. Moskos (Contributions to Conflict Management, Peace Economics and Development, Vol. 12 Part 1), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 59-69. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1572-8323(2009)000012A009