The Higher Research Seminar: Lisa Strömbom, Lund University - “Agonistic Memory and Peace”

Agonistic Memory and Peace: Colombia, Northern Ireland and Israel-Palestine

Investigates memory initiatives in three of the world’s hardest to solve conflicts and how they can be invested with more constructive dynamics

• Agonistic memory work as a framework for conflict transformation
• In-depth case studies from Colombia, Israel-Palestine, and Northern Ireland
• Careful historical tracing of memory politics in zones of protracted conflict
• Agonistic memory dialogues as potential site for conflict transformation

This is a book about the power of memory in fractured societies and initiatives that resist pressures to simplify history. It traces the intricate pathways of local dialogue initiatives in three of the world's most emotionally charged conflicts: Colombia, Israel-Palestine, and Northern Ireland.

There, the past is always contested terrain—it is present, alive and deeply political. The book draws on agonistic peace theory, which proposes continued contestation, discussion and disagreement - in non-violent, constructive forms - as the most productive way to transform violent conflicts.

Focusing on how local organisations can work to facilitate dialogue about conflict memory, the analyses rely on interview-based case studies where organisations working on bringing people together to juxtapose their memories of these conflicts are probed. The results underline that safeguarding dialogue spaces, stimulating counter-hegemonic forces and the circulation of memory between memoryscapes at different scales are crucial enabling factors for successful agonistic memory work.

Open access: Agonistic Memory and Peace: Colombia, Northern Ireland and Israel-Palestine on JSTOR

The Higher Research Seminar is the main collective seminar of the Department. The research staff and invited national and international leading scholars present ongoing research and analyses of a broad range of exciting topics of relevance for Political Science.

The Higher Research Seminar is held on Wednesdays, 13.15 to 14.30 in Eden 367, unless otherwise indicated. PhD Mid-term seminars 13:15 to 14:45. 

Convenors: Robert Klemmensen and Jonathan Polk

The seminars are open to the public. Welcome to join us!

The Higher Research Seminar | Department of Political Science