Befriending the Enemy: Do Cultural Exchanges Really Matter?

Juliana Schroeder, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Chicago, spoke at CPD on March 25, 2015 about Seeds of Peace, a summer camp for teenagers from areas of conflict. Each year, hundreds of teenagers attend the three-week camp in Maine where they engage in group activities and conversations in an effort to build cross-cultural understanding, friendships and lasting peace.

Seeds of Peace was founded in 1993 by journalist John Wallach who wanted campers to “simply make one friend” from the other side of the conflict. Beginning in 2010, Schroeder and her research partner Jane Risen (University of Chicago) set out to scientifically evaluate the wisdom of Wallach’s advice, namely: what does making one friend actually do? Looking specifically at interactions between Israeli and Palestinian youth, who comprise the majority of camp attendees, Schroeder and Risen found that:

  • Intergroup contact from the three-week summer camp measurably improved attitudes between Israeli and Palestinian youth.
  • More than 50% of campers reported close friendships with youth from the other side of the conflict.
  • There is a definitive correlation between outgroup friendships and attitude change.

To see how Schroeder and Risen evaluated Seeds and Peace, and to learn more about their findings and program recommendations, watch here.

Befriending the Enemy: Do Cultural Exchanges Reall Matter?

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