There have been physical walls, symbols of division between people and many have been broken down. The Chapel of Reconciliation in Berlin is a good sign. The taking down of the Ledra Street Wall in Nicosia was another, the wall dividing North and South Korea was discussed at the recent summit and the West Bank Wall in Israel and the Belfast wall continue to stand. There is also a symbolic wall in hearts and minds dividing people of different race, tribe, colour, sex, and religion, and politics, even in the workplace. Not everyone likes them. They entrench attitudes and cause alienation.
Social attitudes vary widely on any subject. Attitudes are our readiness the act in a certain way. The British Social Attitudes Survey shows the variety of attitudes and opinions people have about everything from political parties and trust to health care, poverty, the labour market and the workplace, education, to the countryside, transport and the environment, race, religion, civil liberties, immigration and the media. Our attitudes affect our actions and co-operation and conflict patterns. Attitude change is very important.
Social structures are also cause of alienation. Many are based on paradigms of classic theory and result in alienation and a feeling of having no control over the environment. They are originally structures of alienation intended to divide and rule. The radical changes that have taken place over the last couple of hundred years mean that there is more co-operation now. Co-operation means not creating internal problems. There has been a role reversal from 'doulos', the slave/servant to 'oikonomos', the steward/servant in most cases. People work together more. Reconciliation and co-operation should become part of the culture where division or conflict has taken place.
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