Social Identity and Intergroup Conflict

This paper explores why people identify with social groups and what this identification signifies for their sense of self,
status in society and intergroup conflict. We describe various theories of social identity to elucidate ways in which individuals
can negotiate their different social identities, and what this means for intergroup relations. We consider the implications
for both majority and minority group members, and those from high and low status groups. We show that social identification
is an essential part of an individual’s social existence, and that such identification is inextricably related to intergroup
conflict. While overarching common identities have been hailed as a possible panacea for conflict, we demonstrate that such
identities have differential effects for minority and majority group members. There is a serious tension between the assimilationist
preference that the majority wishes for minority members to adopt, and the integrationist position that the minority group
themselves prefer. We conclude with a call to focus research efforts on how to balance the needs of the many and the few in
pluralist and unequal societies.