Rituals in Conflict Resolution: A Helpful Tool or a New Medium?

Anna Bilous

doi:10.22151/politikon.19.2

Authors

Anna Bilous University of Kent, UK, Jagiellonian University, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.19.2

Keywords:

conflict resolution, rituals, universalism, relativism

Abstract

While the essay will be mostly concentrated on the role of rituals in resolution of conflicts and promoting negotiations and the impact ritual theory can have on conflict resolution as a discipline, it will also try to address these general questions on substantial issues of conflict resolution development. The essay defends that the study of rituals can substantially deepen the understanding of conflict and conflict resolution in world politics. Therefore, the paper argues that the body of ritual helps to uncover practical ways of tackling the contradiction between universalism and relativism in conflict settlement/transformation. As a unique tool of social order restoration, ritual studies open a new perspective on conflict resolution and, in accordance with a deep conviction of an author? Which one?, give an opportunity to address the critic posed towards conflict resolution as a discipline.

Author Biography

Anna Bilous, University of Kent, UK, Jagiellonian University, Poland

Anna Bilous, 24, is a graduate who has recently obtained an MA in European Governance at the University of Kent and the Jagiellonian University. She has previously received her Bachelor and Master in "Political Science" at the Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Anna’s latest Master thesis was dedicated to the problem of accountability in democracy promotion in third countries and currently interns at Camfed. Her interests include democratic transition, development studies, conflict resolution and political philosophy.