Tackling Puzzles of Identity-Based Conflict: The Promise of Framing Theory

The Turn to Violence in the Kurdish-Turkish conflict

“…The framing theory for identity-based conflicts, developed by Marie-Eve Desrosiers (2015) incorporates grievances into a larger theory. It explains how changes in circumstances can lead an ethnocentric frame to be accepted by a certain population, enabling the mobilization of an ethnic group for violent actions.…”

“…In her article, Desrosiers (2015) argues that framing theory, if adapted to the study of conflicts, can also be a very promising framework for explaining identity-based conflicts. Framing is the process in which "purposive tools" (Desrosiers, 2015, p. 128), called frames, are used to present people or circumstances in a specific way in order to achieve a specific goal; in the case of civil war, for example, the mobilization for ethnic violence.…”

“…However, in order for ethnocentric framing to succeed, the circumstances need to be favourable for such a frame to resonate. Desrosiers (2015) gives examples of circumstances that can create ethnocentric rhetoric to be used: "shifting patterns of power relations [...] changes in state strength/policies, a major crisis or event, [...]" (p. 129). If there are agents making use of this (change in) circumstances to stimulate taking up arms, violence can erupt.…”