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Within this framework, they describe the psychological challenges that the occupation may pose to the members of the occupying society. Next, they introduce psychological mechanisms that members of an occupying society may use in order to avoid facing these challenges. Finally, they offer a number of ideas regarding the relationship between these mechanisms and the process of ending the occupation.

http://jpr.sagepub.com/content/47/1/59.short

Socio-psychological implications for an occupying society: The case of Israel

Eran Halperin
Lauder School of Government, IDC Herzliya, Israel, eran.halperin@idc.ac.il
Daniel Bar-Tal
School of Education, Tel-Aviv University
Keren Sharvit
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland
Nimrod Rosler
The Swiss Centre for Conflict Research Management and Resolution, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Amiram Raviv
Department of Psychology, Tel-Aviv University

Journal of Peace Research January 2010 vol. 47 no. 1 59-70

Abstract

Although prolonged occupation of a nation is no longer a common phenomenon, where it does exist, it bears harsh implications for all parties involved. This article examines the socio-psychological implications of occupation on the occupying society, using the case of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1967 as an example. The article first delineates the concept of occupation from a socio-psychological perspective, which supplements the legal-formal aspect. The authors then propose a conceptual framework that analyzes the psychology of the occupying society. Within this framework, they describe the psychological challenges that the occupation may pose to the members of the occupying society. Next, they introduce psychological mechanisms that members of an occupying society may use in order to avoid facing these challenges. Finally, they offer a number of ideas regarding the relationship between these mechanisms and the process of ending the occupation.