Learning about ‘good enough’ through ‘bad enough’: A story of a planned dialogue between israeli jews and palestinians

• Published in: Human relations (New York) 2004-09, Vol.57 (9), p.1075-1101
• Main Authors: Maoz, Ifat, Bar-On, Dan, Bekerman, Zvi, Jaber-Massarwa, Summer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arab-Israeli conflict; Asymmetry; Cold War; Communication; Cultural relations; Dialogue; Group dynamics; Information sources; Interfaith relationships; Intergroup conflict; Intergroup relations; International relations; Interpersonal relationships. Groups. Leadership; Israel; Jewish people; Jews; National identity; Palestinian people; Palestinians; Political sociology; Social conflict; Social psychology; Sociology; Studies
• ISSN: 0018-7267; 1741-282X
• DOI: 10.1177/0018726704047139

This study analyzes a dialogue process aimed at building relationships between Jews and Palestinians in Israel using an innovative research approach of following the story of the encounter. It attempts to explore whether such dialogue groups are able, in practice, to actually get away from the unbalanced political–structural conditions of the conflict between them. Usually we try to learn about such processes through successful ‘good enough’ encounters. This study takes the opposite position of looking at what we can learn from an unsuccessful encounter: A ‘bad enough’ one. Analysis of the dynamics that evolved in this dialogue shows the different tactics that were used by two Jewish-Israeli students to control the dialogue and emphasize themes of ‘togetherness’, ‘we want quiet’ and ‘we are all human beings’. We follow the futile attempts made by both other Jewish and Palestinian participants to counter these control attempts and to center the discussion on national identity and conflict. Finally, we discuss ways in which such a dialogue process could have been improved and could have served as a learning experience for its participants.