Peace Psychology Book Series Series Editor: Daniel J. Christie Scott L. Moeschberger Rebekah A. Phillips DeZalia Editors Symbols that Bind, Symbols that Divide The Semiotics of Peace and Confl ict Peace Psychology Book Series Series Editor Daniel J. Christie For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/7298 Scott L. Moeschberger Rebekah A. Phillips DeZalia Editors Symbols that Bind, Symbols that Divide The Semiotics of Peace and Confl ict Editors Scott L. Moeschberger Rebekah A. Phillips DeZalia Psychology, Taylor University Coastal Carolina Community College Upland , IN , USA Jacksonville , NC , USA ISSN 2197-5779 ISSN 2197-5787 (electronic) ISBN 978-3-319-05463-6 ISBN 978-3-319-05464-3 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-05464-3 Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London Library of Congress Control Number: 2014938201 © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014 T his work is subject to copyright. 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We have taken a fairly broad perspective on what consti- tutes a “symbol,” to include objects such as fl ags, signs, and monuments. In addition, we include commemorations and other dynamic events that serve as a means for groups or individuals to connect with past generations, celebrate a heritage, and possibly express religiosity. While these symbols typically refl ect heritage to one group, to another group the same symbols might convey hatred and oppression. Our goal is to provide examples of these symbols in a specifi c confl ict setting, providing a historic background and then psychological/anthropological analyses of the current dialogue surrounding the use of the symbols. T his book came about during a series of discussions on the function of symbols. We realized that, although many peace psychologists differ in where they conduct their researches and what theoretical framework they employ, much of our work can boil down to how we are guided towards peace or continued violence through a variety of symbols. More precisely, regardless of the setting, these symbols function to connect us to the past and provide us with a cultural narrative as well as give us emotional attachments and perceptual fi lters through which we understand our current reality. We sought a group of authors who were diverse in both their country of interest and the way in which they approached their understanding of the semiotics of con- fl ict and reconciliation. In addition to giving readers a background in the confl ict of their respective countries, we wanted the authors to analyze the symbols that have intentionally and unintentionally been utilized by societies after explicit confl ict ends. What is the function of the symbols in that society? How do these symbols bring divided group together? How do they continue the confl ict if only on an implicit level? Even though this book contains global and diverse perceptives, the emphasis on the divisive and/or reconciling nature of symbols unites the chapters. For peace psychologists, analyzing these divided symbols can lead to a rich understanding of the history of the confl ict, but more importantly can serve as a powerful metaphor for understanding the progression of reconciliation within the v vi Preface particular cultural confl ict. These symbols likely are charged with sociopolitical narratives that help defi ne social identity, in-group/out-group representations, and potentially serve as a current “assessment” of how groups or individuals experience confl ict within the specifi c context. Authors were asked to provide a brief historical overview of the context for the readers, then focus on the particular symbols that are “divided” in the culture with a focus on nuances of the symbols. We have sought authors from around the world who have conducted empirical studies on intergroup relationships or have provided signifi cant academic contributions in the area of symbols and collective memories represented in theoretical publications. O ur aim was to provide readers with a rich tapestry of intellectual analyses from a diverse set of scholars from around the globe. Woven through this framework are narratives that exemplify years of violence and confl ict within each society. We recognize that in each chapter, there is a story—a story that by itself is powerful, but viewed collectively these stories complement each other in a way to show how sym- bols can powerfully divide or unite individuals. In this process, we see the analysis of these symbols as a way to both remember the past and in doing so keep a hopeful eye towards the future of restoration and justice. Upland, IN, USA Scott L. Moeschberger Jacksonville, NC, USA Rebekah A. Phillips DeZalia Contents The Function of Symbols that Bind and Divide ........................................... 1 Rebekah A. Phillips DeZalia and Scott L. Moeschberger Forsaken Monuments and Social Change: The Function of Socialist Monuments in the Post- Yugoslav Space .................................... 13 Sandina Begić and Boriša Mraović “What We Are, Where We Are Headed”: A Peace March Visits an Ex-torture Center ................................................. 39 Carolina Muñoz Proto Contested Symbols as Social Representations: The Case of Cyprus ......................................................................................... 61 Charis Psaltis, Tahir Beydola, Giorgos Filippou, and Nektarios Vrachimis Symbols that Speak: Christ and His Word in El Salvador ......................... 91 Jose Leonardo Santos Holocaust Collective Memory in the Context of the Palestinian–Israeli Confl ict: A Multifaceted Symbol ........................ 111 Cristina Andriani Understanding Symbols of Division in Post- confl ict Northern Ireland ............................................................................................. 137 Maurice Stringer and Jackie Hunter Being Rwandan: The Use of Language, History, and Identity in Post-Genocide Rwanda ........................................................ 157 Rebekah A. Phillips DeZalia vii viii Contents Post-apartheid South Africa: A United or a Divided Nation? .................... 181 Elirea Bornman Heritage or Hatred: The Confederate Battle Flag and Current Race Relations in the USA ....................................................... 207 Scott L. Moeschberger Index ................................................................................................................. 219 Contributors Cristina Andriani Clark University , Worcester , MA , USA Sandina Begić Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA Tahir Beydola Department of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK Elirea Bornman University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa Rebekah A . Phillips DeZalia Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville, NC, USA Giorgos Filippou Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus Jackie Hunter University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand Scott L. Moeschberger Taylor University, Upland, IN, USA Boriša Mraović Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Carolina Muñoz Proto Escuela de Psicología, Pontifi cia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Chile Charis Psaltis Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus Jose Leonardo Santos Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul, MN, USA Maurice Stringer Psychology Research Institute, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK Nektarios Vrachimis Department of Psychology, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus ix