Exploring Police-Citizen Conflict and Reconciliation Through a Relational Model

author Sara Stronks
journal EJPS (ISSN: 2034-760X)
volume Volume 3
issue Issue 3
section Articles
publicatie datum 1 mars 2016
langue English
pagina 342
keywords relationship value, conflict management, relationship security, relationship compatibility, reconciliation
abstract

In this paper, the function of reconciliation in five different Dutch cases of media-salient police-citizen group conflict is explored through a Relational Model. Based on 53 interviews with key-actors, the ratio between assessments on the value, security and compatibility of police-citizen relationships and conflict interaction is analysed. The results indicate that respondents actively describe police-citizen relationships in terms of their value, security and compatibility. Assessments on the security and compatibility of a relationship seem directly negatively affected by overt conflict. Individual negative intergroup interaction and relationship assessment can be transformed – reconciled – through critical moments of direct contact and reconciliation appears an important and effective strategy of relationship maintenance in mutually assessed valuable relationships that are challenged by overt conflict. A group reconciliation however, seems only possible when key-actor party representatives commit to the reconciliation process.