The relationship between identity and conflict from a structural perspective

Document Type : Original Article

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Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University

Abstract

    This study aims to answer a main question; how the concept identity had developed within the constructivist school? how constructivists use it in the field of international relations to explain conflicts? To what extent the concept of identity relates to the concepts of security and national interest? And what are the limits of the impact of identity as a catalyst for conflict or cooperation?
    The study used constructivist theory to explain conflict and its connection to the concept of identity. It concluded that there is no agreement among international relations theorists about the meaning of identity, so the concept needs to be reformulated in order to achieve some kind of compatibility with postmodern analyses. It was shown that the relationship between identity and conflict is a complex relationship that may be a catalyst for conflict and may be lead to cooperation. Finally, the identity on the behavior of the actors is not a stable effect, but it may be an effect before the conflict or after it.

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