The symbolic significance of identities, borders, and land in deep entrenched conflicts

This paper seeks to advance understanding of the dynamics of the emergence and escalation of conflicts over territory, sovereignty and statehood by exploring the symbolic significance of identities, borders and land. Despite their powerful influence on the likelihood and intensity of war, they remain understudied and underappreciated. Bridging a 'symbolic politics' framework with a conflict resolution perspective, this paper seeks to underline the importance of acknowledging the symbolic significance of identities, borders and land in trying to overcome the 'absolutisms' that have kept us trapped for so long and prevented us from imagining 'other worlds' of conflict resolution without resorting to war. After discussing the symbolic significance of identities, borders and land, I will analyse the South Tyrol case study in terms of the 'sacralisation' of identities. I will then turn to the 'sacralisation' of borders through the case study of the Ethiopian-Eritrean war, and finally to the 'sacralisation of land' through an analysis of the Zionist aspiration to create a Jewish state.