Engaging Conflict History: Toward an Integrated Method of Conflict Resolution Dialogue and Capacity Building

Abstract

Th is article presents a method of applied practice that engages contested historical meanings of intercommunal and international confl ict. Th e concept of confl ict history is introduced to describe a worldview of a confl ict-aff ected community that seeks a coherent explanation of theT his article endeavors to answer questions arising from practical experiences in facilitating confl ict resolution dialogues and capacitybuilding workshops: How can communities undergoing deeply rooted confl icts come to terms with the multifaceted meanings of their collective history? How can they use their memories of the divided past as a basis of self-refl ection and a source of strength to transform their long-standing confl icts? How can they discover and activate peace potential in their collective understandings of history based on a learnable and teachable method of inquiry and dialogue? To answer these questions, I introduce the concept of confl ict history, which I defi ne as an evolving cognitive universe of a confl ict-aff ected society that seeks to develop a coherent explanation as to how the confl ict has emerged and evolved into its present form. Th is question of how inevitably leads to other related questions, such as what events and issues have contributed to shaping and reshaping the confl ict,

Moving beyond personal change: Using dialogue in ethnically divided communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…However, the aim of dialogue should not be to decide on the accuracy of various historical claims. Instead, dialogue allows participants to explore these claims in order to enhance their understanding of the conflicting perspectives and their underlying causes and to focus on common future (Arai, ; Rafferty, ; Tint, ).…”

Engaging with the Violent Past to Motivate and Direct Conflict Resolution Practice in Northern Ireland

“…There have been some developments in understanding how conflict resolution practice can engage with the violent past in societies affected by intractable conflict. Learning about the collective memories of other identity groups and working toward a more complex and inclusive understanding of the conflict have been put forward as central elements of conflict resolution practice in intractable conflicts (Arai ; Nets‐Zehngut and Bar‐Tal 2014). In particular, the importance of encountering contradictory information that inspires individuals to accord greater legitimacy to their opponent's narrative has been highlighted (Keynan ; Nets‐Zehngut and Bar‐Tal 2014).…”

“…In societies affected by intractable conflict, such as Northern Ireland, collective memories of the past can do much to prevent conflict resolution in the present (Arai ; Bar‐Tal ; Tint ). Intractable conflicts are long running, difficult to resolve, and often involve a repeated cycle of violence (Bar‐Tal ).…”

“…As a result, attempts at conflict resolution in such societies can be strengthened by actively engaging with how individuals understand and interpret the past (Psaltis ; Tint ). Dialoguing about the past can help groups to recognize the existence of different narratives, which has the potential to increase understanding of opponents’ perspectives (Arai ; Shea ). In particular, developing shared or inclusive historical narratives may support conflict resolution and reconciliation (Barton and McCully ; Korostelina ).…”

“…Given that, at present, there is only a limited understanding of how to engage with the past in ways that will support conflict resolution and reconciliation (Arai ; Tint ), there is scope for learning from cases of successful practice in this area. Conflict resolution practitioners (CRPs) who live in societies affected by violent conflict have found creative ways to facilitate constructive dialogue about the past (see Bland ; Chaitin ; Lykes and Crosby ).…”