Introduction Inter group conflict has been a issue for a very long time. People from different groups have always seemed to develop conflict. Whether it is racial, age group, culture, religion, sex, gender, class or social group based, conflict occurs when two groups (in group vs out group) have opposing views on something and choose to express that view with it having a negative impact or prejudice view on the opposing group (Binder et. al., 2009). Does interpersonal contact improve relations among groups that are in conflict? This is the question that needs to be answered. Conflict will always be present when two groups have opposing views. However, this does not mean that the relations between groups should be damaged. For example, a couple …show more content…
Some have argued that contact is an essential part of integration between groups and ultimately reducing inter group conflict. Ramiah and Hewstone (2013) claim that if a nation wants ideologies and policies that promote integration and peace; representatives from each group need gather in order to represent their group’s unique needs and their perspectives of their communities. According to Ramiah and Hewstone (2013) peace between groups will require contact. For a nation it will be beneficial to have contact between the political (or appropriate representative) elites from different groups, also between the political elite and members of the public from conflicting groups. In addition there also needs to be contact between members of the public from different groups (Ramiah & Hewstone, 2013). The below quote displays Ramiah and Hewstone’s (2013) view of how contact can reduce inter group conflict and increase public relations from a top down …show more content…
Rather, time, money and resources could be directed to transforming the theory wherein it will be more practical and have actual value in improving relations between conflicting groups across the globe. This review recommends that more focus be given to making the theory as practical as possible so that it may actually reduce/eliminate intergroup conflict and prejudice. As theory on is own is beneficial for our knowledge, it cannot fix the problem without practical implication. Much more research has to be done, as contact is only one part of the solution (Pettigrew,