Polarization and Social Beliefs in Some Militants of two Ideologically Antagonistic Political Parties in the Post-Conflict Framework in Colombia

Abstract

This research explores logics of political polarization of eight militants from two antagonistic parties: Democratic Center (CD) and Colombia Humana (CH), which are significant exponents of right and left in Colombian politics. The objectives are focused on understanding social beliefs about their own political group, as well as the opposing party, regarding certain issues, about the opposing group and its militants, and the emotional orientation towards the opponent. The theoretical perspective was developed from critical realism and social and political psychology, with an emancipatory perspective, and was guided by the works of Bar-Tal (2007, 2013, 2017), Blanco (2007), Martín-Baró (1990, 2003), Mouffe (2007), Tajfel (1984) and the framework of the macro-investigation “Psy-chosocial barriers for the construction of peace and reconciliation in Colombia”. Using the qualitative method with a hermeneutical approach, 8 semi-structured interviews were conducted with militants from both parties (4 from each one), carrying out a content analysis through intertextual matrices and first and second level theoretical coding. It was possible to understand the way in which social beliefs about the political adversary, read as an enemy, are woven and developed in a network of meaning that interprets it in a negative way, in moral and political terms, based on stereotypes, prejudices and stigmas that obstruct the possibilities of dialogue and consensus, strengthening perspectives that invite their silencing, dilution, co-optation, defeat and exclusion. All this accentuates polarization as an expression of the psychosocial trauma left by decades of armed conflict in Colombia, becoming a barrier to the construction of peace and reconciliation.