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Storytelling as a means for peace education: intercultural dialogue in Southern Thailand
Citation
Anjarwati, E and Trimble, AJ, Storytelling as a means for peace education: intercultural dialogue in Southern Thailand, The Journal of Living Together, 1, (1) pp. 45-52. ISSN 2373-6615 (2014) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation (ICERM)
Official URL: https://www.icermediation.org/projects-campaigns/j...
Abstract
This article relates to my 2009 field research that focused on the use of peace storytelling as a medium for the transformative learning of peace education. The research was aimed at promoting social reconciliation and intercultural dialogue between youth of Thai-Buddhists and Malay-Muslims in the ongoing intra-state ethno-religious conflict in Southern Thailand. Senehi (2002) argues that storytelling is an instrument for socialisation and education. This is seen as the key to conflict transformation and peacebuilding by motivating people to undergo self-transformation. My study was informed by theoretical frameworks of peace education and conflict transformation that seek to promote constructive peace
engagement through nonviolent approaches addressing major issues and increasing understanding,
equality, and respect in relationships (Lederach,
2003). Through interviews and focus group sessions,
as well as art workshops with the youth of conflicting
parties, the case study demonstrates that peace
education through storytelling can be utilized as a
tool of narrative truth-telling, aimed at restoring
inter-personal relationships, healing traumatic experiences
and promoting social coexistence. This
method can foster intercultural and interfaith
dialogue. Further it can contribute to the development
of a culture of peace, in which the practice of
peace storytelling with a member from ‘the other’
group can be interpreted as a desire to proclaim the
"unheard" voices and feelings to be shared with ‘the
other’. It connects with the practice of active listening
to overcome prejudice, leading towards the transformative
learning process. Through the use of storytelling,
participants in the study were given opportunities
to share their lived experiences, affirm each
other, and internalize new possibilities for expressing
and working through both conscious and
repressed thoughts and feelings together. The
process contributed to the participants’ potential to
transform a culture of violence into a culture of
peace. Peace storytelling may, therefore, be seen as
an apparatus for conflict transformation and peace
education, as well as an act of art that may lead
toward nonviolent social change in a society divided
on ethno-religious lines.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | peace education, conflict transformation, storytelling, intercultural dialogue, southern Thailand |
Research Division: | Human Society |
Research Group: | Sociology |
Research Field: | Sociology of migration, ethnicity and multiculturalism |
Objective Division: | Culture and Society |
Objective Group: | Religion |
Objective Field: | Religion and society |
UTAS Author: | Anjarwati, E (Ms Erna Anjarwati) |
UTAS Author: | Trimble, AJ (Ms Allison Trimble) |
ID Code: | 126206 |
Year Published: | 2014 |
Deposited By: | Education |
Deposited On: | 2018-05-29 |
Last Modified: | 2018-08-24 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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