Contact Theory for Youth

As the youth population continues to grow in countries throughout the developing world, I have been thinking about what role this burgeoning group will play in conflict and post-conflict environments. It is an oft-cited truism that peace must begin with the youth because they are more open-minded than the older generation, have tremendous energy and enthusiasm, and represent the future of their countries. Yet their very open-mindedness makes them susceptible to hatred and violence, as events like the clashes following the 2008 elections in Kenya illustrated all too vividly. Moreover, youth in post-conflict environments may grow up hearing about the terrible things another group did during a conflict and may feel even more negatively toward the other group than the older generation. This disturbing trend can be seen among young nationalists in places like Russia and the Balkans whose parents grew up amidst the relative tolerance of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

While there is no magic formula for channeling the energy and enthusiasm of youth toward constructive participation and development of their communities rather than hatred and violence, my experience working on IREX youth programs from Russia to Rwanda has underscored the importance of positive contact with peers from other backgrounds. In his contact theory, psychologist Gordon Allport specifies the desired conditions for intergroup contact and cooperation as key elements to reduce prejudice. Our youth programs bring together youth from different backgrounds in conflict and post-conflict contexts throughout the world and provide them with the opportunity to interact in a safe and supportive training environment in which they have equal status.

According to contact theory, the opportunity for positive contact will dispel negative stereotypes that youth from different groups have developed about each other as a result of messages from the media  and prejudiced family and friends. Furthermore, they will begin to view each other as individuals rather than members of particular ethnic groups. I have seen this powerful dynamic at work in the North Caucasus, where ethnic Russian youth who had never met a Chechen but had grown up surrounded by negative messages about the Chechen war and terrorists were apprehensive when they participated in an IREX youth leadership camp. They gradually changed their opinions as they got to know and understand their Chechen peers over the course of the camp. By providing such opportunities, IREX aims to facilitate constructive engagement of youth in the development of their countries.