Working together in the context of protracted asymmetric conflict: Israeli Jews and Palestinians in joint medical work teams.

Abstract

This study examines intergroup contact in a real-life work setting of Jewish and Palestinian nurses working in joint medical work teams in Israel where membership is involuntary. Specifically, it investigates Jewish and Palestinian nurses’ experiences of working together in a hospital in Israel in the context of the protracted and asymmetric conflict between Israeli Jews and Palestinians. Thematic content analysis of 42 in-depth interviews, based on a grounded theory approach, reveals that Jewish and Palestinian employees alike experienced a sense of inequality and unfairness in the joint medical teams, blaming the other group for the asymmetric power relations. This, in turn, impaired the work atmosphere and made Jewish—Palestinian cooperation difficult in this real-life organizational setting. The findings contribute to the understanding of the complexity of asymmetric power relations in a joint Jewish—Palestinian medical work team within the context of protracted conflict. It shows that even when there are factors that are assumed to encourage an effective intergroup contact, such as superordinate goals and similar professional status, the influence of the broad sociopolitical context prevails and constitutes a hindrance to an effective intergroup contact in a mixed work environment.

Engaging complex diversity in academic institution: The case of “triple periphery” in a context of a divided society

“…This paper focused on the domain of diversity praxis, evolving in real‐life settings characterized by social divisions and intergroup tensions (Arieli, 2019; Desivilya Syna, 2015; Friedman et al, 2018; Hargie et al, 2003; Janssens & Zanoni, 2014; Maoz, 2011; Raz‐Rotem et al, 2019; Roos & Zanoni, 2016; Syna‐Desivilya, 1998). We examined how organizational members conceptualize, experience, and actually engage diversity in their educational practice.…”

“…In most societies, this transition occurs concomitantly with existing or emerging intergroup tensions, social divisions, and inequalities-widening the gaps among the privileged social groups and the excluded ones (Geiger & Jordan, 2014;van Laer & Janssens, 2011). Understanding the ramifications of the complex social relations on diversity management in organizations constitutes an important research endeavor in the current era (Desivilya et al, 2017;Holck, Muhr, & Villesèche, 2016;Raz-Rotem, Desivilya Syna, & Maoz, 2019).…”

“…Yet, the domain of diversity management praxis, evolving in real-life settings characterized by social divisions and intergroup tensions, remains largely understudied (Arieli, 2019;Desivilya Syna, 2015;Desivilya Syna, 2020;Friedman, Arieli, & Aboud-Armali, 2018;Hargie, Dickson, & Nelson, 2003;Janssens & Zanoni, 2014;Raz-Rotem et al, 2019;Roos & Zanoni, 2016). How do organizational members conceptualize, experience, and actually manage diversity in their organizations?…”

“…It tackles the implications of social divisions and diversity for institutions of higher education in complex sociopolitical contexts. The specific context of this case affords a unique opportunity for studying a timely and scantly studied phenomenon of intricate power relations among organizational actors in a peripheral institution and its ramifications on organizational practices (Desivilya et al, 2017;Desivilya Syna, 2020;Prasad, Pringle, & Konrad, 2006;Raz-Rotem et al, 2019;Zanoni & van Laer, 2015).…”

Developing relational resilience : engaging youth living in the midst of intractable conflict

“…Other critiques of contact theory question whether the effects of planned intergroup encounters can be generalized to the larger population (Abu-Nimer, 1999;Dixon et al, 2007) as well as how the impact can be sustained within escalating or intractable conflict (Abu-Nimer, 1999;Desivilya Syna, 2020;Desivilya Syna & Maoz, 2019;Dixon et al, 2005;Halabi & Sonnenschein, 2004). Several studies have suggested that the positive effects of intergroup encounters do have the potential to extend beyond the participants of the encounter to the larger outgroup (Brown & Hewstone, 2005;Pettigrew, 2021).…”