ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that during a violent intercommunal conflict a number of negative transformations take place at the structural, inter-cultural and individual level. It reviews some key texts that have helped us to identify some destructive processes that are triggered or reinforced by violence as especially significant. The growing recognition of the importance of militarization/demilitarization is apparent from the significance now accorded to disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) programmes in post-violence situations. Often the residential segregation that follows violent intercommunal conflict is recognized and maybe even legitimized by an approach to peace that believes the best thing to keep the parties apart. In Northern Ireland find a strong example of the demonization that results from sanctification in the comments of the Rev. The problem of entrapment might have to wait for resource exhaustion, but neutralized through encouraging goal relinquishment or the standing down of the existing leadership in favour of new leaders who are less trapped in the past.
