Democratization, Psychology, and the Construction of Cultures of Peace
Author(s)
Montiel, Cristina Jayme; Wessells, Michael
Abstract
Many new democracies left behind histories of authoritarianism but collective memories of political abuses remain. Conditions of violence and peace that accompany the transition to democracy include forms of direct, structural, and cultural social transgressions. Democratization processes (DP) may likewise unleash a more subtle yet powerful form of social violence, as Western powers impose their own governmental forms that are alien to weaker states. Such impositions of democracy revive unpleasant memories of Western hegemonic activities during colonial periods and the Cold War. Psychologists can contribute positively to indigenous DP by helping peoples in new democracies identify local participative processes, minimize marginalization of human pluralities, build egalitarian political cultures, and strengthen democratic selves. But to achieve these goals, psychology as a discipline needs to take a critical approach and adapt to the practical and theoretical demands of DP. The authors propose 3 alterations within the field: expand psychology’s intellectual boundaries beyond subjective-individual well-being, increase multidisciplinary views, and encourage indigenous psychological practitioners/thinkers.
