The Guide to Trauma-Informed and Emotionally Mindful Conflict Practice

Restoring social harmony requires both emotion and the difficult embrace of past felt traumas. Jeremy A. Rinker provides a clarion call for practitioners to bravely explore human emotions and past trauma. He interrogates current conflict intervention practice—moving past interest-based negotiation and needs-based conflict resolution—and provides a guide for more emotionally mindful and trauma-informed conflict intervention work. Trauma-Informed and Emotionally Mindful Conflict Practice addresses the underattended aspects of emotions and foregrounds historical harms in the work of resolving social conflict. It critically investigates trauma and human emotions as an underexplored resource in addressing local and entrenched community violence and integrates the theory and practice of trauma-informed approaches using cultural framing, storytelling, resilience, and emotional human connection to chart new ways toward peace. This refocusing of peace work is critical for not only conflict resolution but also for overcoming the ossification of polarized social identity formations.

Table of Contents:
Introduction – Centering Trauma and Storytelling in Conflict Intervention Practice. Chapter 1 –Trauma, Identity, and Sense of Victimhood: Conflict Dynamic Processes Conflict Resolution, and Conflict Transformation. Chapter 2 – Developing a Trauma-informed Lens: Narrating and Listening to Narration Chapter 3 – Challenging Hierarchies through Trauma Stories: What Does it Take to be an Effective Survivor? Chapter 4 – How to Address Collective Injustice without Destroying the System: The Theory and Practice of Addressing Injustice and Systems Maintenance Chapter 5 – Building a Toolbox for Trauma-informed Conflict Practice Conclusion – Respecting Traumatic Story as Resistance and Resilience Practice for Change

About the Author :
Jeremy A. Rinker is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro’s Department of Peace and Conflict Studies. He is the editor of the Journal of Transdisciplinary Peace Praxis.

Review :
Jeremy Rinker offers an innovate and refreshing reassessment on trauma and its remedies at personal and societal levels. He argues convincingly that relevant contexts for viewing trauma must be reconceptualized by practitioners working to halt cycles of violence and to promote healing processes, not only to reckon with social injustices but also to acknowledge and engage with emotions as a crucial part of addressing trauma. This book provides invaluable insights for practitioners and theorists from disciplines as diverse as psychology, trauma counseling, social work, sociology, mediation, peacemaking, and peace-buildings. It will provoke useful reflection and reevaluation of widely held assumptions about the nature of trauma and how to prevent and ameliorate trauma-induced suffering. With a restorative focus, this book offers a perspective that views collective and historical trauma and emotions as powerful transformative resources, amplifying the voices of the marginalized. Rinker integrates theory and practice, forging human connections with the reader through storytelling, and provides profound insights for peacebuilders and practitioners, guiding them in conflict resolution and nurturing the collective potential for sustainable change