Lesley University DigitalCommons@Lesley Educational Studies Dissertations Graduate School of Education (GSOE) 2010 Authority, Leadership, and Peacemaking: The Role of the Diasporas: A Pilot Study of a Group Relations Conference: A Dissertation Tracy Wallach Lesley University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/education_dissertations Part of the Education Commons, Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons, and the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons Recommended Citation Wallach, Tracy, "Authority, Leadership, and Peacemaking: The Role of the Diasporas: A Pilot Study of a Group Relations Conference: A Dissertation" (2010). Educational Studies Dissertations. 56. https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/education_dissertations/56 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School of Education (GSOE) at DigitalCommons@Lesley. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Studies Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Lesley. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AUTHORITY, LEADERSHIP, AND PEACEMAKING: THE ROLE OF THE DIASPORAS A Pilot Study of a Group Relations Conference A DISSERTATION Submitted by TRACY WALLACH In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy LESLEY UNIVERSITY November 24, 2010 ABSTRACT Research suggests that conflicts are much more likely to re-ignite in societies which have large Diaspora communities in the United States. This study examines the role of American Jewish, Arab, and other Middle Eastern Diaspora communities in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and addresses the generally neglected role of trauma and emotions in perpetuating conflict. The project employed group relations conference methodology to conduct the inquiry. A group relations lens allows one to look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at multiple levels: on the psychological level (looking at issues of trauma, identity, collective narrative, emotions and unconscious processes); on the social level (looking at inter-group relations); and on the political level (examining the role of leadership, authority and power dynamics). A pilot conference, Authority, Leadership, and Peacemaking: The Role of the Diasporas was convened April 16-18, 2010. Surveys and interviews were administered before and after the conference in order to examine the impact of the conference on participants. The conference evaluation addressed the following questions: what did participants in the conference learn about the conflict? How did conference participants perceive their individual roles and the collective roles of their respective Diasporas in perpetuating the conflict there? What part might these conferences play in helping participants, as members of their respective Diaspora communities to contribute to the peace process? What processes/variables are at work during the conferences and afterwards that contribute to participant learning and action? The dissertation describes the particular innovations and adaptations made to the group relations conference model; the ways in which the pre-conference and conference dynamics mirrored the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; research design and preliminary findings up to three months post conference. Recommendations for future conferences on the topic are made and implications of the findings for group relations are discussed. In loving memory Jacques Burton Wallach (1926-2010) Acknowledgements A project such as this cannot happen without the support of many people, whom I would gratefully like to acknowledge here: Earl T. Braxton, my mentor, colleague and friend, who believed in me before I believed in myself. With almost no notice, he generously offered his organization, Innovative Cultural Education and Training Institute, Inc. (ICETI) to serve as fiscal agent for the project. My doctoral committee: Arlene Dallalfar, my senior advisor, who provided me with unwavering support along the way, even as she made me learn things I didn‘t wish to know. Along with Eleanor Roffman, she helped me to open my eyes to aspects of the conflict that I was blind to. Finally, though she may not remember it, Mary McRae was one of the earliest supporters of this project, before it became the reason for me to return to school. Zachary Green and Rene Molenkamp of Group Relations International were early supporters of the project. Zachary Green offered invaluable emotional and consultative support to the project. Both he and Earl Braxton encouraged me to take up my authority around the project and act as primary sponsor at a time when it seemed as if it would all fall apart. My doctoral cohort (in alphabetical order): especially Celia Bianconi, Laura Douglass, Jan Wall, Nancy Young, who provided lots of support and laughter throughout and who made returning to school at such an advanced age fun. This was one of the healthiest working groups I have ever belonged to! Ruth Duek, who back in 1997 first introduced me to the work of Besod Siach, and who facilitated my introduction to the organization when she invited me to staff a conference she directed in 2002. Anat Sarel, Ada Mayer, Nimer Said, and Shay Ben Yosef, who took up my invitation to present at the AK Rice Institute‘s 2003 Scientific Meeting, when initial plans for this project were made. Tal Alon, the board and members of Besod Siach, who first dared to use these methods in the midst of a real conflict, and who were behind me and the project from the start. Special thanks to the conference directors, Peter Shapiro and Nimer Said, who took a risk in taking on the project, and hung in there through all the uncertainties, and through our conflicts. They did a brilliant job and rolled with the punches. Many thanks are due also to the staff that had the willingness and the flexibility to shift to the member role. I am grateful to all members of the conference, who took the risk to come and who worked hard to make the conference a meaningful learning experience. I am grateful to Virginia Reiber, my dear friend, who spent countless hours reading, re- reading and editing this document, above and beyond the call of duty. Kim Wallach also read through and edited drafts of several chapters. Thanks to my family: my mother, Doris F. Wallach, who taught me my first lessons on human and civil rights; my sisters, Lisa (Wallach) Auteri, and Kim Wallach; my brother- in-law Anthony Auteri; and nephews and niece (in chronological order): Gabriel, Jonah and Zachary Auteri, and Ariel Temple. Much love to you all. Hilary Rantisi and Yamila Hussein provided encouragement, honesty, and challenging questions. The conference had six organizational sponsors (in alphabetical order), who I wish to acknowledge here: The A. K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems (AKRI) is a national educational institution that advances the study of social systems and group relations. It has eight affiliate organizations around the US and over 240 associates and friends. The Institute seeks to deepen the understanding and the analysis of complex systemic psychodynamic and covert processes which give rise to non-rational behavior in individuals, groups, organizations, communities and nations. Using experiential and participatory theories and methodologies that derive from the Tavistock tradition, the Institute sponsors group relations conferences, research and publications, professional meetings, and training and application events. Besod Siach (Israel): Since 1991, Besod Siach, an Organization for the Promotion of Dialogue between Conflict Groups in Israeli Society, has been on the cutting edge of promoting dialogue and innovating methodology for dialogue processes between various conflict groups in Israeli society. Its mission is to transform the antagonistic and intolerant climate within which religious, political, social and ethnic-cultural differences are dealt with in Israel; to promote a pluralistic and democratic value system; and to help leaders from all sides find better solutions to the challenges of mutual co-existence in an evolving Israeli culture. Group Relations International: GRI promotes consciousness for a just world. Our purpose is to increases awareness, access and applicability of group relations learning on authority, identity, and leadership to wider populations. We do so by supporting the creation of experiences in personal and organizational transformation that serve as a catalyst for social justice action. Innovative Cultural Education and Training Institute, Inc. (ICETI): The mission of ICETI is to develop, implement, and promote events which increase cultural awareness, serve to bridge the diversity amongst us and strengthen the humanity in each of us. ICETI works to promote the following goals: to create and promote alternative cultural/historical programs and workshops for children and families; to develop and promote multi-cultural books and materials for children and families; to create and provide workshops for parents and professionals focused on cultural awareness; to network with organizations and groups with similar missions; to evaluate and document the models utilized. Middle East Non-Violence and Democracy (MEND, Palestine): Middle East Nonviolence and Democracy (MEND) promotes active nonviolence and encourages alternatives to violence among youth and adults throughout Palestine. MEND employs innovative methods, especially with the media, and is widely respected for working with authenticity, professionalism and courage.