Fractured Stories, Fragmented Societies: Addressing Collective Trauma through Narrative Engagement 

This discussion paper explores the relationship between collective trauma and narrative in post-conflict and divided societies. Drawing on emerging insights from psychology, peacebuilding and narrative practice, it argues that traumatic experiences are not only individually held but also collectively transmitted through group stories, cultural symbols and social memory. 

While these narratives help communities make sense of harm, they may also entrench rigid identities, polarise intergroup relations, and perpetuate cycles of fear, blame and exclusion. With illustrative examples from Kenya and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the paper shows how narratives can feed cycles of violence, but also have the potential to increase resilience and empathy. 

Building on the narrative peacebuilding approach developed by IFIT’s Inclusive Narratives Practice Group, the paper identifies multiple practical strategies that can strengthen the capacity of a society to live with and navigate collective trauma in ways that reduce polarisation and help break cycles of violence.

The DOI registration ID for this publication is: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17462827.