An encounter with empathy: normalisation or resistance? The case of Israel and Palestine

We are pleased to announce that Dr Naomi Head will be presenting on: 'An encounter with empathy: normalisation or resistance? The case of Israel and Palestine'. The questions she explores through encounters with Israelis and Palestinians address the dynamics of empathy and dialogue in the context of protracted conflict. Focusing on civil society and grassroots organisations working actively with principles of non-violence, Dr Head examines what definitions of empathy people might hold, where they differ and why. How far do explanations of structural and cultural violence account for obstacles to developing empathy and dialogue? How important are these concepts for shaping attitudes towards the conflict and to what degree does their presence/absence inform narratives of resistance and transformation? Dr Naomi Head is a Lecturer in Politics at the University of Glasgow and an Honorary Research Fellow at ICCS. Her research focuses on the role of communication in conflict and the relationships between dialogue, empathy and conflict. For more information on the Institute for Conflict Cooperation and Security, visit their website.