Mikhail Lyubansky

My research interests are focused broadly on conflict and restorative approaches to conflict. I am particularly interested in a systemic approach to conflict and injustice developed in Brazil called Restorative Circles (RC). My current work is focused on supporting the development, evaluation, and adoption of this practice in a variety of contexts, including schools, organizations, and the criminal justice system. A brief summary of Restorative Circles (and restorative principles) is available in this article I wrote for Psychology Today. A more academic discussion of restorative circles and how they can be used to engage racial conflict can be found in this Peace Review article co-authored with RC developer Dominic Barter and in this article about Trayvon Martin. My most recent publication examines the challenges associated with doing restorative justice in schools. Much of my current work focuses on better understanding the psychological and community changes produced by restorative systems and practices. As well, I am interested in power dynamics and in restorative approaches to racial and other types of group conflict.

I also have a long-standing interest (going back about 20 years) in race and racial dynamics, including identity development, group relations. I've published several papers on race group differences in Americans' beliefs about their racial and national identity groups and the extent to which these beliefs explain attitudes and behaviors associated with group conflict. I've also co-written a 2006 book about the Russian-Jewish diaspora and co-edited another book on Socially-Responsible Psychology. Although most of my work these days focuses on restorative justice, I do still occasionally study and write about immigration and racial/ethnic identity.