Constructive Storytelling: A Peace Process
Senehi, J. (2002). Constructive Storytelling: A Peace Process. Peace and Conflict Studies, 9(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.46743/1082-7307/2002.1026.
The article centres on the extraordinary persuasive and connective power of storytelling. Due to being accessible to anyone at any point in time (no literacy, no equipment required) it can be an important tool for creating a sense of a shared humanity. The example of French author Desmond is evoked: he saved prisoners from being killed by Nazi German soldiers through telling stories which made the guards feel the prisoner’s humanity. The article uses this to distinguish between the potential of storytelling to disrupt dominant narratives and foster understanding (constructive storytelling) but also its potential to reinforce systems of oppression and stereotypes (destructive storytelling). According to the author, it is intention, method and the context of constraints that can make storytelling constructive or destructive.
This article illustrates that at the very base level, stories can connect us to our shared humanity, fostering understanding and empathy and are therefore central for making peace. Since storytelling operates on levels of knowledge, but also identity, socialisations, emotions and morality, this makes stories a space for people to connect their own and other’s perceptions. Storytelling is a tool that has immense amounts of power for peace, since it can foster collaborative power and be a means of resistance against stories that dehumanise and oppress. But systems of oppression and unjust and biased perceptions of reality are often also based on stories. This article therefore specifically highlights storytelling and stories as a double-edged sword for peacebuilding, having to be used with the right intentions and methods.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.46743/1082-7307/2002.1026.