27 OCTOBER 2018| TALK

Reconciliation in conflict situations, if at all possible, needs to be addressed at several levels. First, there is the question of trauma, did the person actually experience it or was it historical or retold memory. Then there are lasting misperceptions. Then the matter of real interests, of the communities taken as a whole, or of the leadership groups, or of key players. Also, how is the process of reconciliation structured: is it being organized by a powerful third party or dominant regional nation? Is it being brought about by interest groups within the communities, such as business elites, or military juntas? Is it initiated by track II players, influential journalists, academics, civil society activists? All these factors have a bearing on how the reconciliation process may progress, what blocks it will face and what chances of success it might have.

Dr Vithal Rajan, OC, PhD [LSE], FINS answered these burning questions and talked about reconciliation in conflict situations!

SOURCE: CONFLICTORIUM ARCHIVES