Harmonious intergroup relations require deliberate intervention because they do not develop naturally.

Evidence

The history of intergroup relations shows that peaceful, productive relations between groups involving mutual respect do not come naturally. The recognition of this fact has led to the creation of a wide range of programs to improve intergroup relations among racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, and other types of groups. Intergroup relations programs began to appear in the mid-twentieth century, but it was not until the 1970s and 1980s that they started to appear in large numbers. Unfortunately, the social problems that these programs address – prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination – are still widespread in all societies. Centuries-old tensions remain. New tensions are arising, fueled in part by increasing migration worldwide and the globalization of the world economy. In 2000, at least 160 million people were living outside their country of birth or citizenship (Martin & Widgren, 2002). The increasing internal diversity of the world’s societies, and the continuation of longstanding prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination, make the creation of effective intergroup relations programs an issue of paramount importance for the future welfare of our world. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 2630

Categorization

• SEED: An essay angle: ‘Peace is engineered, not natural’ — surveying what evidence shows about why harmonious coexistence between groups requires designed institutions rather than organic emergence.