A Psychiatric Model for Intercession in Intergroup Conflict

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Abstract
A therapeutic approach to intercession in intergroup conflict would involve establishing and institutionalizing linkages of communication and contact between the hostile parties. Such linkages create an "intersystem system" that tends to limit the vigor of hostile interaction. A process model for such intercession involves five distinct steps: (1) the intercessor establishes dialogue with each involved party; (2) particular interests of the parties are defined and complementary or mutual interests are identified; (3) members of the conflicting groups are brought together on neutral ground in the presence of neutral buffers; (,) limited cooperation toward achieving "partial superordinate goals" for selfinterested purposes is encouraged; and (5) the intercession is terminated as soon as communication concerning concrete and limited cooperative goals is established. Throughout this process the internal organization and outlook of each group are respected, and there is no attempt to challenge the boundaries or integrity of the group or its beliefs. An experiment in phased intercession between the United States Embassy and the Revolutionary Youth Movement in the Dominican Republic during a period of estrangement and hostile interaction supported the principal hypothesis outlined above and demonstrates the practical possibility of global field experiments in scientific peace-making.