Conflict Restoration and Social Healing Group

The Research Group on Conflict, Reconciliation, and Social Healing aims to address the critical gaps in social science research, which has traditionally focused more on war and aggression rather than themes of peace, reconciliation, and social healing. Recognising the vital importance of peace in human life, the group seeks to explore the significance of healing and reconciliation in pursuing lasting peace. By understanding the social context of trauma and considering various factors and challenges, the group aims to contribute to the development of appropriate social interventions for personal and social healing. This concept note presents an overview of the group's objectives, previous activities, and future research directions.

The group aims to bridge the gap in social science research by shifting the focus from war and aggression to peace, reconciliation, and social healing. By doing so, it seeks to highlight the critical role of these themes in creating a harmonious society.

Recognising the diverse social environments in which individual and mass trauma survivors live, the group seeks to understand the implications of these contexts on rehabilitation and healing processes. By exploring the diverse manifestations of trauma, the group aims to develop comprehensive strategies for social intervention. The group recognises establishing a shared identity between conflicting parties as a fundamental aspect of social healing and reconciliation. It examines present identities within communities and the various historical perspectives each party holds. The objective is to lay the foundation for a different future while acknowledging the past without seeking to replicate it. The group aims to redefine the concept of social healing by emphasising the modification of memories to enable victims to embrace a future beyond the constraints of the past. Healing does not entail forgetting; instead, it involves finding ways to move forward while acknowledging and learning from the past.

The group has already organised conferences and dialogue series to address the questions about healing, reconciliation, and peace. These events have included discussions on healing in regions such as Srilanka, Garhwal, and Madhya Pradesh. The group has also organised a dialogue series focusing on non-violence and terrorism, exploring ethnic conflicts in North-east India and Nepal, and investigating the role of UNICEF's empowerment program in restoring justice and peace. By inviting speakers from diverse backgrounds, the group aimed to transcend boundaries and foster cross-cultural understanding, thereby facilitating the identification of solutions to global conflicts.

The group intends to continue engaging with transnational issues, including everyday forms of crime. By studying major global conflicts and micro-conflicts for justice and reconciliation, the group aims to contribute to understanding the underlying dynamics and explore transformative approaches. The group will also explore emerging research areas, such as prison abolition, to uncover connections between different forms of oppression and develop ideas of justice that address existing societal inequalities.

The group recognises the need to examine critically and question concepts often taken for granted, such as peace, justice, healing, restoration, and transformation. By challenging these notions, the group aims to contribute to developing more comprehensive and inclusive frameworks that address the complexities of social healing and reconciliation.

The Research Group on ‘Conflict, Reconciliation, and Social Healing’ works towards filling the gaps in social science research by shifting the focus to themes critical for human life. By understanding the diverse social contexts of trauma, building shared identities, and redefining social healing, the group aims to contribute to developing effective social interventions for personal and social healing. Through its previous activities and future research directions, the group seeks to foster cross-cultural understanding and contribute to resolving global conflicts while also addressing everyday forms of injustice.