How can trust between groups be rebuilt after war? How can social ties be repaired? Some evidence suggests that bringing together people of opposing groups for cooperative activities, like sports, can help. IPA’s Peace & Recovery program supported research by Salma Mousa in post-ISIS Iraq that evaluated the impact of mixed Christian-Muslim soccer teams on social cohesion and interactions between Christians and Muslims.

Mousa recruited 42 soccer teams, founded by displaced Christians, to participate in inter-religious soccer leagues. Half the teams were randomly assigned to get an additional three Muslim players from other local teams; the other half of teams served as a comparison group and had only Christian players.

What effect did mixing Christians and Muslims on soccer teams have on players' tolerance and prejudice?

1. Playing on mixed soccer teams made players more tolerant of players from different religious groups
2. Playing on mixed soccer teams made players less tolerant of players from different religious groups
3. Playing on mixed soccer teams made players more tolerant toward both soccer players and non-soccer players from different religious groups
4. Playing on mixed soccer teams had no impact on tolerance or prejudice

Without evidence, decision-makers often have to guess the answers to questions like these. IPA works with researchers and our partners to generate evidence on what works, so organizations and governments can make informed decisions.

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The IPA Team