Psychology of Politically Unstable Societies

This volume presents the latest developments in the field of political psychology by exploring the psychological processes that underlie political instability and how these can be addressed with psychological interventions. Written by a team of international leading researchers, the book critically re-evaluates the relevance of concepts primarily developed in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) contexts, for non-WEIRD societies. It focuses particularly on East-Central Europe and South Africa, showing how they enjoy some privileges of WEIRD countries but are also characterized by a troubled history and relative deprivation. Covering psychological concepts such as political trust, conspiracy thinking, authoritarianism, populism, autochthony, social identity, and prejudice, the chapters illustrate that psychology has the tools to explain the recurring and shared problems of these societies.This original book is ideal for scholars and students in social psychology, political science, and social science. It will also be useful reading for policy makers, political analysts and anyone who wishes to understand their role in creating more stable and more just societies.

Barbara Lášticová is senior researcher at the Institute for Research in Social Communication of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava, Slovakia. Her main areas of research include intergroup relations (focusing on prejudice reduction in educational settings), social identity and collective action on behalf of disadvantaged groups. Anna Kende is a Professor of social psychology at the Institute of Psychology of ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. Her main research interests are intergroup conflicts, prejudice, political action, and intergroup solidarity, mainly in the context of East-Central Europe and its largest ethnic minority group, Roma people.