ECHOINGWARS · Echoing Wars. How Variations in War Narratives Within a Globally Dispersed Community Impact Conflicts Through Feedback Mechanisms.

ECHOINGWARS will study how variations in war narratives develop within a globally dispersed community and impact the conflict through feedback mechanisms. While communities directly experiencing war and those in exile are usually studied separately (conflict studies and refugee studies), it is crucial to consider these globally dispersed communities as interconnected and key actors in the construction of war narratives. However, these communities experience narrative variations based on their location, encompassing both similarities and differences. The project's originality lies in viewing these narrative variations as essential to understanding their potential impact on the conflicts themselves. The project will focus on three specific objectives: (1) The historiography of contested ethnic naming; (2) The memory of past violence in the landscape; and (3) The influence of intergenerational conflicts on politicization. A fourth, transversal objective will examine the feedback mechanisms between variations in the war narratives of globally dispersed communities and the conflict justifications presented by key political officials. The study will focus on wars in the African Great Lakes region, specifically those involving the pastoral Banyamulenge community. This case was chosen for three reasons: (1) Due to colonization, this community is a border population; (2) Due to past conflicts, this community has become globally dispersed; and (3) In a context of ongoing wars in the GLR, this community has shifted from a marginal to a central position in the discourses of key political officials. By integrating an outstanding international research environment and developing a tailored training program, I will qualify as a leading researcher in a new and promising field at the crossroads of political anthropology and conflict studies. Additionally, I will gain new writing, communication, and management skills, enabling me to achieve professional excellence and independence.