Symbolic sacred-value gestures can unlock negotiations that political positions cannot.

Evidence

More systematic understanding of what kinds of symbolic gestures involving sacred values are likely to be effective in conflict prevention and resolution, including signatures of emotional sincerity, could provide novel possibilities for breakthroughs to avoid or lessen conflict. In a meeting of senior Iranians, Saudis, Israelis, Americans, and British arranged by members of our team and Lord John Alderdice (Convenor, UK House of Lords) at the University of Oxford on the nuclear issue in early September 2013, we informally monitored expressions of devotion to values, including emotional attachment, and suggested opening negotiations via a symbolic gesture evoking sacred values rather than political positions. In response we received a message that Iran’s President Rouhani would publicly acknowledge the Holocaust in New York (which US and Israeli officials told us would be a positive development for negotiations). — Scott Atran, The Devoted Actor, 39

Categorization

• SEED: Strong anecdote for an article on how recognizing the adversary’s sacred values (Holocaust acknowledgment) paves the way for diplomatic breakthroughs.
• XREF: connects to: Symbolic recognition, not material incentives, opens negotiations over sacred values — Scott Atran and Jeremy Ginges, Sacred Values and Cultural Conflict, 65; Material incentives harden sacred-value conflicts while symbolic gestures soften them; Material incentives backfire on sacred values while symbolic recognition softens opposition. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 547 (+2 more)

Related

• Symbolic recognition, not material incentives, opens negotiations over sacred values (similarity 0.88)
• Material offers to resolve sacred-value conflicts backfire and increase violence, while symbolic concessions work. (similarity 0.83)
• Symbolic recognition, ignored by utilitarian logic, may resolve intractable conflicts. (similarity 0.81)
• Material incentives harden sacred-value conflicts while symbolic gestures soften them (similarity 0.80)
• Sacred-value defenders benefit materially yet must deny those benefits to stay non-negotiable (similarity 0.79)
• Offering material incentives for sacred-value compromises backfires and increases hostility (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Material incentives backfire on sacred values while symbolic recognition softens opposition. #corroborates (0.95) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 547
• Material incentives harden sacred-value conflicts while symbolic gestures soften them #corroborates (0.92)
• Offering material incentives for sacred-value compromises backfires and increases hostility #qualifies (0.88) — Scott Atran and Jeremy Ginges, Sacred Values and Cultural Conflict, 67
• Sacred values’ interpretive ambiguity allows peace-oriented reframing #expands (0.85)