One of the characteristics of polarisation is its link to social identity and peoples’ need for categorisation. People tend to classify themselves and others into categories and in terms of group prototypes that reflect belief sets, attitudes, norms, values and behaviors and then identify more with members of their own category (in-group) than with members of other categories (out-group). Individuals with a high group identity tend to incorporate aspects of that group in their self-concepts. And as people tend to like their in-group members more than the out-group members, bias in favor of similar in-group members and bias against out-group members is created, resulting in an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ way of thinking and acting. Differently said: People create assumptions and labels to identify the other, but meanwhile are just reinforcing their own identity. By doing so they are inclined to focus on the differences between ‘us’ and ‘them’ rather than on the similarities.

We see that this us-vs-them thinking has increased alarmingly in recent years, for instance in the last Dutch selection results in which polarising parties won many votes. But we also notice it more and more in neighborhoods and districts, in Amsterdam as well. The sense of community of the 1980s and 1990s has gradually given way to further separation and telling stories about each other.

To what extent is it possible to reverse this dynamic by inviting people to share their stories with each other? Are there interventions to be developed to reduce and counter polarisation? That is what we want to explore in this course, not only theoretically but also by connecting to different communities, mainly in the Nieuw-West boroughs of Amsterdam.

This interaction with the communities it concerns makes this course also very attractive for Dutch speakers, however this in not obligatory.

Coordinators

Arjen Barel and Bianca de Groot

Timetable

All lectures will take place on-campus and we assume you can be physically present during the scheduled hours. You can find the timetable on Datanose.

Registration

Registration is possible for students participating in an Honours programme. The registration for the Honours courses will start on June 5, 10 am -  June 11, 11.59 pm. You can register through the online registration form that will appear on Honoursmodules. (registration is NOT through SIS)

Please note: There is no guarantee for placement if you register after June 11, so make sure you register on time. You will hear which course(s) you are registered for before June 30. 

For questions about registration, please contact us at: Honours-iis@uva.nl

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