Promoting Promoting “Human “Human

Security,” Security,” Repairing Repairing

NarrativesNarrativesProfessor Sara Cobb, Ph.DProfessor Sara Cobb, Ph.D

Institute for Conflict Analysis Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution@ George Mason and Resolution@ George Mason

UniversityUniversity

04/19/231Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Narrative Dimension of Narrative Dimension of Human InsecurityHuman Insecurity

Oppression is the presence of a dominant Oppression is the presence of a dominant narrative that is narrative that is imposed on or adopted byimposed on or adopted by the oppressedthe oppressed

ConsequencesConsequences Infiltrated Consciousness: I am what THEY say Infiltrated Consciousness: I am what THEY say

I amI am Deprivation of Opportunity: They see me as Deprivation of Opportunity: They see me as

evil, crazy, incompetent.evil, crazy, incompetent.

04/19/232Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Human Insecurity as Human Insecurity as “Damaging Identity”“Damaging Identity”

Opression damages identityOpression damages identity

Reduces “moral agency” or the capacity to be Reduces “moral agency” or the capacity to be a moral actor And be elaborated/storied by a moral actor And be elaborated/storied by Others as moralOthers as moral Cannot position or story self as agentCannot position or story self as agent

Other that a violent resistor of dominant narrativeOther that a violent resistor of dominant narrative Moral framework of the marginalized cannot be Moral framework of the marginalized cannot be

developed in interaction/elaborated---remains developed in interaction/elaborated---remains marginalized: Only recourse is violence, because marginalized: Only recourse is violence, because moral agency (“Personhood” is not possible)moral agency (“Personhood” is not possible)

““Voice” is lostVoice” is lost

04/19/233Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Ineffective Ineffective CounterstoriesCounterstories

Contesting events/issues within the moral Contesting events/issues within the moral framework of the Dominant framework of the Dominant Competing entitlement claimsCompeting entitlement claims

Equating all within “my” group as the same Equating all within “my” group as the same (claims to rights flattens differences between (claims to rights flattens differences between victims)victims)

Dimishing differences with dominant narrative Dimishing differences with dominant narrative (creating equivalencies which are (creating equivalencies which are “manufactured”)“manufactured”) We both want “security”We both want “security”

04/19/234Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Narrative Repair and Narrative Repair and Human SecurityHuman Security

Telling Effective CounterstoriesTelling Effective Counterstories Elaborated within group Elaborated within group

Diverse perspectives in oPt make this an issueDiverse perspectives in oPt make this an issue Must upend/block or effectively destabilize Must upend/block or effectively destabilize

the dominant narrativethe dominant narrative Must advance the moral agency (experience Must advance the moral agency (experience

of agency)of agency)

04/19/235Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Features of Features of Effective CounterstoriesEffective Counterstories

Complex plot linesComplex plot lines Internalize responsibilityInternalize responsibility

Characterize the Other as fearfulCharacterize the Other as fearful Reducing attribution of negative traits/intentionsReducing attribution of negative traits/intentions

Create/accent differences Create/accent differences withinwithin marginalized marginalized groupsgroups

Complex (rather than binary moral orders)Complex (rather than binary moral orders)

Characterization of Self/Group as having both Characterization of Self/Group as having both negative and positive traits, but positive negative and positive traits, but positive intentionsintentions

04/19/236Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Critique of “Conflict Critique of “Conflict Resolution”: Implications Resolution”: Implications

for Narrativefor Narrative Conflict is assymetrical.Conflict is assymetrical.

Oppression, marginalization, differential access to Oppression, marginalization, differential access to resources all reduce access to “participation” resources all reduce access to “participation”

““Conflict resolution” creates an “as if” Conflict resolution” creates an “as if” symmetry as though there was not a symmetry as though there was not a dominated/dominatingdominated/dominating

Summary: “Conflict resolution” addresses Summary: “Conflict resolution” addresses “interests” as disconnected from narrative of “interests” as disconnected from narrative of suffering, victimization (“Separate the people from suffering, victimization (“Separate the people from the problem”----the problem”----Getting to YesGetting to Yes))

04/19/237Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Practical speaking….Practical speaking….

Research on counter stories shows:Research on counter stories shows: Created in interaction (intragroup, first)Created in interaction (intragroup, first) Created through narrative facilitation Created through narrative facilitation

(destabilzing the dominant story)(destabilzing the dominant story) Created through public deliberation Created through public deliberation

Public spectacle (witnessing)Public spectacle (witnessing)

04/19/238Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Narrative Evolution Narrative Evolution through Public through Public

Deliberation Deliberation (NOT “Public (NOT “Public Diplomacy”)Diplomacy”)

Reflective inquiry and problem-solving in the Reflective inquiry and problem-solving in the public sphere (deliberative processes)public sphere (deliberative processes)

Increasing “doubt” and reducing “certainty”Increasing “doubt” and reducing “certainty” Strengthening democracy (institutions)Strengthening democracy (institutions) Strengthening social networksStrengthening social networks

Addressing fractures Addressing fractures withinwithin group group Creating bridging narrativesCreating bridging narratives

Drawing on Islamic and cultural resources for Drawing on Islamic and cultural resources for problem-solvingproblem-solving

Real problems, real solutions, of, by, and for the Real problems, real solutions, of, by, and for the PalestiniansPalestinians

04/19/239Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

““Security” for the Security” for the Palestinians: A New StoryPalestinians: A New Story

04/19/2310Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Human Security in Human Security in Palestine:Palestine:

Repairing Damaged Repairing Damaged NarrativesNarratives

Stage One: “Stories of Suffering, Stories of CourageStage One: “Stories of Suffering, Stories of Courage Creating community and morality (Girard, 1978)Creating community and morality (Girard, 1978) National Effort to document, archive suffering National Effort to document, archive suffering Media campaign/international, social networking Media campaign/international, social networking

technologytechnology

Stage 2Stage 2 National Reconciliation Commission (with decentralized National Reconciliation Commission (with decentralized

headquarters)headquarters) Appointed by Parliment, Hamas and Fatah membershipAppointed by Parliment, Hamas and Fatah membership Identification of and deliberation on local issues/needs by Identification of and deliberation on local issues/needs by

the residents (building on Islamic traditions for public the residents (building on Islamic traditions for public deliberation)deliberation)

04/19/2311Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Repairing Damaged Repairing Damaged NarrativesNarratives

Stage Three:: “Regaining the Public” Stage Three:: “Regaining the Public” (Arendt)(Arendt) Centralized “Issues Forum”Centralized “Issues Forum” Deliberations across all communities problems Deliberations across all communities problems

and solutions are createdand solutions are created

Stage FourStage Four Planning process for addressing problems Planning process for addressing problems

vetted by deliberative processvetted by deliberative process Creation of a Development PlanCreation of a Development Plan International Aid Conference for funding International Aid Conference for funding

Ritual and ceremony: “Finding a voice”Ritual and ceremony: “Finding a voice”

04/19/2312Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Deliberation and the Role Deliberation and the Role of the International of the International

CommunityCommunity Developing rich counterstories attached to Developing rich counterstories attached to

specific development plansspecific development plans Education, public health, economic Education, public health, economic

opportunitiesopportunities

Development plans as foundation for Development plans as foundation for international aid requestsinternational aid requests

Formation of a public entity with capacity to Formation of a public entity with capacity to manage international fundsmanage international funds

04/19/2313Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu

Real SecurityReal Security

Voice, moral agency, effective Voice, moral agency, effective counterstoriescounterstories

Creating a public sphere for witnessing, Creating a public sphere for witnessing, deliberation, problem-solvingdeliberation, problem-solving

Planning and effective partnershipsPlanning and effective partnerships

04/19/2314Sara Cobb, Ph.D. scobb@gmu.edu