Darfur: Efforts to forgive and reconcile in an unresolved conflict. Forgiveness and reconciliation: Psychological pathways to conflict transformation and peace building

Author: Giddo, S.A., Kalayjian, A., Paloutzian, R.F.

Source:
In Forgiveness and Reconciliation (pp. 189-206). Springer, New York, NY.
Abstract Disasters, whether natural or man-made, have a tremendous psychological impact on individuals, communities, societies, and nations. In the case of natural disasters, the affected people blame their life circumstances (e.g., they live in an earthquake-prone area) even as considerable bitterness remains in their soul and they suffer from lingering trauma. However, in the case of man-made disasters, grievance and bitterness expand beyond the posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) seen in natural disaster victims to become posttraumatic disorder that stems from the violent behavior a victim suffers at the hand of an actual person (Digeser, 2001). In order to discuss this in more depth, let us use the Darfur Genocide as a case study. This chapter will emphasize the psychological impact resulting from the conflict and will focus especially on ways to reach the forgiveness necessary for the healing of a society.