Identifying factors promoting or obstructing healing and reconciliation: Observations from an exploratory research field in ex-Yugoslavia.
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Neighbor-on-neighbor killing causes lasting harm to individuals, communities and societies. Even though the territory has been divided, a geographical proximity that has particular consequences remains along ethnic lines. In such context, when antagonist parties must live as proximate neighbors, post-conflict trauma must be addressed for reconciliation to occur. In ex-Yugoslavia, years of various peacebuilding measures and efforts have been giving priority to physical and tangible consequences while neglecting psychological sufferings. In this article, I argue that while instrumental reconciliation may have occurred to a certain level in former Yugoslavia ‐ allowing cooperation for tourism, and the like ‐ such reconciliation remains insufficient to sustain peace since it does not address post-conflict emotional reactions which, unaddressed will fester and grow ‐ becoming potential tools of future political manipulation and/ or potentially sparking violence.
Author: Geneviève Parent
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2186515315