The impact of critical counter-movements in the context of violent inter-group conflicts on outgroup hostility and mobilisation

What roles do critical outgroup counter-movements play in the context of violent conflicts? Can the existence of movements mobilising against state-sanctioned violence influence public opinion and alter prejudiced attitudes directed toward the outgroup? We seek to unravel these inquiries by employing a survey experiment specifically designed to examine the extent to which exposure to the diversity of Jewish perspectives and the engagement of Jewish movements critical of the Israeli government can significantly reduce anti-Semitic attitudes among both Muslim and non-Muslim respondents in Germany. Additionally, the study aims to explore whether interreligious coalitions and the collaborative endeavours of interreligious groups can have a reinforcing effect on diminishing such attitudes. Significantly, a third group composed of Muslim activists serves as a control to demonstrate that for a counter-movement to be effective, the mere existence of the movement is not enough; rather, it is the active involvement of outgroup activists that plays a decisive role. The survey, scheduled to be conducted in Germany in 2024 with a sample of 4000 individuals, will intentionally overrepresent people with immigrant backgrounds and Muslim participants to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play. The findings are expected to contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of critical counter-movements and their transnational impact, shedding light on the complex interplay of conflict and movement dynamics in the context of salient violent conflicts.