Lessons from Life and the Classroom
This year, I had the opportunity to teach Intergroup Relations at the University of Toronto as a part-time instructor. It was a new and enriching experience. While at the University of Rhode Island, I once took a course titled Non-Violence and Conflict Reconciliation—at the request of a friend. Since then, I’ve been deeply interested in issues of social harmony and justice. The question of how we can build peace in our society has often occupied my thoughts. Initially, the plan was to teach a different subject. But quite unexpectedly, I found myself teaching this course at a time when divisions between groups—across the world—are becoming sharper. Conflicts based on ideologies, religions, and identities continue to shape current political realities. The urgency of improving intergroup relations is not just felt in North America, but equally in India and elsewhere, I was born in India and I closely observe the socio-political issues pertaining to both societies.
Humans naturally form groups. From ancient hunter-gatherer societies to modern social structures, group belonging has always been central to human life. Today’s group identities—be they religious, ethnic, linguistic, caste-based, or even based on football teams—vary in intensity, but their influence is constant. Some group loyalties are expressed lightly; others are marked by deep emotional and historical baggage. How can we improve interpersonal relations in a world where many people talk past each other and where violence silences dialogue? In social media spaces like Facebook, we often live in echo chambers—spaces where we hear only ideas we already believe in. These chambers form organically and reinforce intolerance. Perhaps such discussions used to happen over tea in local shops where I grew up; now they unfold in virtual rooms that reflect our own thoughts back to us.
In class, we examined Contact Theory, proposed by the American psychologist Gordon Allport. His research suggests that meaningful, reciprocal collaboration between members of different groups—under equal-status conditions—can reduce prejudice. When I taught this to my students, we discussed real-world examples, including the ongoing tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur. Sometimes, creating a superordinate identity—an overarching sense of belonging—can help bridge divides. For example, during the times of crisis people from different regions and ethnicity momentarily set aside their differences to unite under a shared identity. According to Social Identity Theory, it is natural for people to gravitate toward their in-groups. This can strengthen solidarity but also deepen divisions, leading to an “us versus them” dynamic. In class, we explored the roots of discrimination, racism, and prejudice. We also covered Realistic Conflict Theory, which suggests that group bias can arise from competition over limited resources. Economic instability, in particular, can intensify intergroup tensions.
We examined racism in both overt and subtle forms. While overt racism may have declined, symbolic racism—bias wrapped in socially acceptable language—still thrives. For example, the stereotype that a community lags behind due to a lack of work ethic reflects symbolic racism, similarly attacks on DEI. We also discussed the concept of obedience to authority, using Stanley Milgram’s famous experiment. His 1960s research showed that ordinary people are surprisingly willing to follow harmful orders from authority figures. Participants in his study administered what they believed were electric shocks to others—simply because they were instructed to do so. A good percentage of people complied. This has chilling implications for how authority operates in society today.
We also explored Deterrence Theory, which argues that credible threats or consequences can prevent undesirable behavior. In international affairs, one country’s firm response to aggression can act as a deterrent to future threats.
Our classroom included students from Asian, Canadian, Pakistani, and Indian backgrounds. This diversity enriched our discussions. We explored cultural contrasts—for instance, how Asian societies tend to value hierarchy and collectivism, while Western societies often prioritize individualism. When someone moves from one cultural context to another, they may experience cultural shock, often marked by anxiety and disorientation. Training and cultural orientation are often recommended before international relocation for this reason.
We also discussed outgroup homogenization—the tendency to view members of other groups as all being the same. This perception can lead to dehumanization, especially during times of war or intergroup conflict. Abroad, too, migrants—whether legal or undocumented—are often stereotyped and scapegoated. As someone who lives in another country, I am both a migrant and a minority. These personal experiences have also helped me approach immigration debates in India with a more balanced and empathetic lens.
It is important to remember that not all immigrants are criminals, just as not all police officers are violent. Using counter-stereotype examples can help shift perceptions and counteract the process of dehumanization. One of our key classroom discussions focused on building superordinate identities—reminding ourselves that we are all humans, regardless of our religion, language, or background.
On the last day of class, I reminded my students that this subject is more than just an academic exercise. Intergroup Relations is about real life. It is about learning how to build the foundations of a diverse, inclusive, and multicultural society—and how each of us can contribute to that vision in our daily lives.
- Intergroup Relations – by Debanjan Barthakur - May 20, 2025
Insightful account on this topic, thank you for sharing Debanjan! You’re very right that Intergroup relations and conflict resolution are not only academic topics, but very intertwined with real life, so I believe by learning about these theories from articles like this, we can encounter diversity with an open mind and actually learn from our experiences with other groups and work better to resolve conflicts, instead of allowing biases to be reinforced by such strenuous interactions.
Thank you for insightful response.
It’s a very standard analysis and relevant to presentday society
Thank you for your comment.