The role of interpersonal and intergroup forgiveness in a historical context

Abstract

In the past decade, scholars have begun to look at the role of intergroup forgiveness in
reducing conflict and improving prospects for maintaining and strengthening peace between groups
of peoples. The construct of forgiveness, until recently, was mainly characterized as an individual
phenomenon. It is important to study the process of forgiveness between groups or peoples affected by
past conflicts, both on a symbolic and physical level. Post-conflict intergroup forgiveness depends on the
processes of social identity, collective guilt and shame, intergroup contact, group emotions and is supported
by the development of positive attitudes. The interpretation of events affects the process of forgiveness. It
is important to explore the historical context and consequences of various historical events.
Our article deals with a specific example, which means forgiveness of one group of another group.
The social context includes the historical conflict over the discrimination of European Jews in Germany on
ethnic grounds. Based on the analysis of the social context, it is possible to try to make a forecast regarding
the prospects for intergroup forgiveness between representatives of the two peoples, which today is still
relevant due to the growth of nationalist sentiments in the world. Thus, paying attention to the social
context will allow us to analyze both the role of interpersonal forgiveness in the historical context and its
contribution to explaining and exploring differences in intergroup forgiveness.