Reconciliationand recognition (Essay Sample)

RECONCILIATION AND RECOGNITION THEORY
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Introduction
This article gives a detailed analysis argument and criticism and analysis of the state of affairs in the misrecognition and reconciliation theory. The article looks at the political and historical context of the concept in Australia and other parts of the world in a bid to solve economic historical injustices in the country. Recognition is the first process in the reconciliatory process and therefore recognition and reconciliation go hand in hand. With misrecognition the people feel neglected and therefore the efforts go compromised. Recognition involves respect for culture and the people in general (Tajfel1979).
It was long established by the conflict resolution professionals and experienced mediators that the hardest conflict to resolve constitute the religious and ethnic conflicts it has similarly been established that solving the historical background of the issue is necessitated by the progress. Misrecognition of tribe, race or gender is likely to result to political turmoil and resentment as case studies in the apartheid regime of South Africa and gender politics in Brazil.
The apartheid regime in South Africa revolved about the indigenous black communities, the colored and the whites, the colored were the results of intermarriages of the blacks and the whites. The whites held major administrative positions as they were the colonizers a situation which worsened the situation. According to Addison (1981) there was total segregation of the blacks from the whites in terms of transport facilities, social amenities including schools and hospitals.
This was not received lightly by world leaders and South African nationalists and was characterized by industrial boycotts, mass actions and legal suits until apartheid came to an end in 1992, reconciliation has still remained a challenge in the rainbow nation despite the many efforts and diplomacy in the two races especially the middle aged and the old. More than twenty years along the line, the blacks have remained inferior to the whites where most still work as casual laborers in the mines (Graybill 2002).
Brazilian political arena has been characterized by gender imbalance owing to the traditional culture of the Brazilian population. The culture has diminished women as not fit for ruling as in most second and third world countries. In Brazil culture, the title ‘moca’, meaning virgin, is used to formally refer to a lady (a loose translation of miss). This is just an illustration of the place of women in that society. According to Butler (2004), the women are left to domestic chores such as cooking and child bearing and to satisfy their men who in turn are left with the administrative roles. More to that the number of women in parliament has remained constant at nine, despite the major global advocacy on the gender balance in parliament. Women have remained subjects to gender based violence with instances of ten women killed daily from gender based violence Bonvillain (2013).
According to McIntosh (1995), the process of reconciliation ought to be based on a process of transactional contrition and forgiveness between the aggressors and victims. This would lead to a mutual acceptance and ensue to a reasonable trust. The process entails a joint analysis of the conflict, recognition of injustices and the accruing historic wounds and moral responsibility where applicable. A joint history of the conflict is a foundational requirement in conflict resolution.
A reciprocal historical comprehension of the state of affairs and chronology of events is vital in any reconciliatory undertaking this is because most conflicts involve a competing concept of victimization, mutual fear and the memory of a catastrophe as a land mark of the enmity. As the saying goes, the scars remind us the past is real, so does the scars from disasters and the pain involved. This basically means facilitating communication mechanisms between the two rival groups or their leaders to bargain until a fair deal is attained.
The meeting agenda should be based on trust building, interaction and acknowledgement. Through special contacts, the participants can demythologize stereotypical views by introduction of new data and or encouraging the stake holders of both opposing parties to establish a working trust examining their view. On overall, the parties should come up with the solution from themselves.
There is therefore need for the civil society to engage and enhance historical conflicts impacting on the national identity. It comes with great benefits for everyone to recognize the truth, the contemporary and the historical conflict amongst the groups so as to bridge the enmity. Despite the fact that this notion overlooks the duality or diversity of truths and the texture of reality, it is only via social medium and platforms can we are able to appreciate the truth. Truth can however be so dynamic and diverse depending on the mechanism employed, the procedure undertaken and the sample size of the population used.
The Second World War legacy for instance, between Japan and China, is a renowned example. The high number of people that died in Dresden and the significance of the numbers in these cases for instance, the divided memory and the lack of acknowledgement are likely to shape the current relations more than the impact it bears on the state of affairs prevailing in a given set up at a particular period of time. This historical background is important compared to trade disputes, electoral politics, territorial ambitions and trade disputes (Tajfel 1979).
Conflicts may cause politicians to engage differently in a bid to resolve the disagreements in cases historical conflicts. Construction of narratives to bridge the negotiating parties or polarized regions is important to create a reverse effect amongst their member communities. Conflict management stems from the recognition that many political or social conflicts are rooted over historical narratives.
Historians however face the issue that through advocacy and redress as a human right consideration, increase in the effectiveness is achieved and therefore a more productive undertaking ensues. The most significant part of recognition, redress, is therefore a step in the journey of demythologizing the national histories between two histories or passed narratives nations that denigrate or instigate the conflicts (Kinna et al. 2012).
Reconciliation built on historical myths may however be a myth on its own way and counterproductive effect of the complexity of this situation. It may diminish the value of enterprise if it is a form of propaganda. This is because it deepens the wound in both communities especially the subject to the propaganda and also mystifies her enemy. Demystifying the enemy party becomes the hardest process in this undertaking.
History is central in the contemporary politics and as so, historians must recognize that isolation has detrimental impact to contribute to political conflict amongst most societies. Therefore scholars nay not be able to stem the violence but should make the attempt. On large-scale, such advocacy has healing effects for the societies. Excessive wrong and bad history is traded by nationalists without a counter movement that is able to respond to mediation efforts. Many scholars in modern settings are willing to participate and advocate in this process. They should thereof utilize as much as possible their expertise. It is also important to note that many NGOs are similarly taking the similar route. According to Tajfel (1979), it is the responsibility of the mediators to facilitate such advocacy and create tools and or build organizational capacity.
Johnson et al. (1981), argues that the knowledge of which historic events sustain the sense of victimhood and bears the highest impact on pain is the cumulative agenda for healing process. The challenge is however the fact that despite the importance of the victims’ perspective of pain and suffering, the view does not reflect a valid history and may collide with legitimate views of other parties whatsoever. It is unfortunate that during the process of undertaking conflict resolution mechanisms, too much attention is devoted to the interaction itself and the positive psycho-social rapport among the participants and too little on the products. This provides the materials for wider dissemination
Understanding the historical and political concept may be the most crucial role similarly in analysis of social problems facing a community for instance with the age of neo colonialism and "knowledge colonialism”. Many political powers are attempting to solve this menace by seeking the services of historians. "Knowledge colonialism" is manifested in poor self esteem or poor confidence especially among the elite population who still believe in the dictatorship or supremacy of foreigners mostly their colonial masters. This is a common scenario in most third world countries of Africa and Asia but is also not uncommon in the new world countries in Australia.
"Knowledge colonialism" is the biggest challenge for most post independent governments who could not delineate the population to a state of self capability which is vital to self governance. This process of demystifying the colonizers was thus a major step towards reversing the ill situation.
A history of the situation therefore ought to be sought a...