Self-censorship of Conflict-related Information in the Context of Intractable Conflict

Abstract

Self-censorship is of great importance in societies involved in intractable conflict. In this context, it blocks information that may contradict the dominant conflict-supporting narratives. Thus, self-censorship often serves as an effective societal mechanism that prevents free flow and transparency of information regarding the conflict and therefore can be seen as a barrier for a peacemaking process. In an attempt to understand the potential effect of different factors on participants’ willingness to self-censor (WSC) conflict-related information, we conducted three experimental studies in the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Study 1 revealed that perception of distance from potential information recipients and their disseminating capabilities lead to higher WSC. Study 2 replicated these results and also showed that fulfilling different social roles has an effect on the WSC. Finally, study 3 revealed that the type of information has a major effect on WSC.

Self-censorship orientation: Scale development, correlates and outcomes

“…It should be noted, however, that the readiness to conceal or reveal information in any particular situation may be a function not only of one's general disposition, but also of various situational factors, including, for example, the nature of the information, the role and accountability of the person possessing the information, and the role(s) of the person(s) to whom the information might be revealed (Shahar et al, 2018). Future research may expand our understanding of self-censorship and disclosure of information by investigating the conditions under which each is more or less likely to occur (for further discussion see Sharvit, 2017).…”

“…We presented the participants with eight images and asked them to indicate the extent to which each image portrayed a typical situation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the extent to which it was appropriate for the website (1 = "not at all" and 6 = "absolutely"). Half of the images portrayed Palestinians as aggressors and/or Israelis as victims (consistent with the dominant Israeli-Jewish narrative), and the rest portrayed Israelis as aggressors and/or Palestinians as victims (contradicting the dominant narrative) (see also Shahar et al, 2018). We computed an index of appropriateness of narrative-consistent images (α = .85) and an index of appropriateness of narrative contradicting images (α = .89).…”

“…Additional studies examining self-censorship in the context of a violent intergroup conflict were conducted by Shahar, Hameiri, Bar-Tal, and Raviv (2018). In these studies, Israeli-Jewish participants were presented with hypothetical scenarios in which they might receive information about harmful conduct by members of their own group toward Palestinians, and were asked to indicate to whom they would be willing to reveal the information.…”

Nursing Education, Cultural Differences, and Political Conflicts: Israeli First‐Person Action Research

“…However, the core educational strategies of CSE are based on a shared historical narrative (the Treaty of Waitangi) about Maori‐Pakeha relations (Richardson, ). In divided societies where conflict is ongoing—such as in Israel, as well as in numerous other countries where different groups have contradicting narratives regarding history and present relations between them (Shahar, Hameiri, Bar‐Tal, & Raviv, )—educators and policymakers need to develop new strategies to train nurses to cope with such conflict.…”

“…Both the majority of Jewish citizens, as well as the minority of Arab‐Palestinian citizens, tend to see each other as an existential threat and as victims of the other side. Both sides develop conflict‐supportive narratives that justify their violent actions and tend to delegitimize the other group (Shahar et al., ). One of the results is that oppression and injustice towards the minority often tend to be denied by members of the majority (Rachamim & Bar‐Tal, ).…”