Indie Peace’s work with Collective Trauma consists of both analytical and practical approaches, which serve to create space for dialogue at different levels within and between the conflicting societies. In this paper, we present a summary analysis of the Indie Peace process in the Armenian-Azerbaijani context based on our experience and lessons learned.
Analysing the history and development of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict reveals that besides geopolitical, economic, social and cultural origins, the conflict also has deep psychological roots based on collective trauma passed down through the generations which has subsequently become a significant driver of the conflict.
The reason is not that societies want war. Each desires peace, yet their ideas about what peace looks like, and how it can be reached are totally different. The conflicting societies exist in parallel realities, each believing it is their vision of peace that will bring security and stability. Yet these visions and scenarios of peace do not add up to a joint concept of peace, and so this striving for peace does not lead to peace, but on the contrary supports the conflict
Furthermore, the societies’ coping mechanisms and psychological immune system work in such a way as to justify the conflict, to sustain and service it by creating social expectations of every one that require them to be in a constant state of readiness, to be stronger than their opponent, to be better at warfare, and even to launch preventive attack in self-defence. This functional model of society is perceived as the only path to sustainable peace. In such a context, any notion of peacebuilding or conflict transformation dissipates, and peacebuilding is often seen as absurd, treason, or even a threat.
Working with collective trauma involves, first of all, the opportunity to reflect on and analyse one’s own society and one’s place in it, and to better understand why we feel, think and act in the way we do. And this practice of self-reflection prompts us to begin to analyse others, including the other side of the conflict.
Through the development of the public’s skills to analyse the impact of collective trauma on society, through the provision of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, we have paved the way for public demand to be engaged in peacebuilding, including conflict-affected groups in the process.
Our engagement of conflict-affected groups is based on the concept of ‘healing through doing’, which entails rehabilitation through becoming socially active, providing opportunities for growth, socialisation and acquiring new knowledge and skills. To this end, we adopted a community-based approach designed to activate society’s own resources, involving every person in their own recovery and that of their community.
The parallel work on both sides led by Indie Peace helps people understand their place in the conflict and the internal tendencies in their society. It also helps the sides develop mutual understanding, dispels their exclusive focus on themselves and “their” truth, and creates space for acceptance of “the other’s” truth – first on an individual level, and later, at the societal level. Constructive internal dialogue on the impact of collective trauma encourages individuals to think critically about themselves, their history and role in the conflict, creating potential for social transformation, a culture of peace, and the possibility of bilateral dialogue in the name of peace.
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This publication is part of Indie Peace’s initiative on Collective Trauma, funded by the European Union. The views expressed in the article are the sole responsibility of Indie Peace and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
