Expectations of Constructivism
Constructivism offers a number of methods to understanding narrative descendancy. First, that ideas, beliefs and meanings are malleable and in conflict and they are able to be fitted to the situation, i.e. actors involved in violent conflict may create conflict-supporting narratives which provide explanation and authorization for their involvement. Likewise constructivism demonstrates that leaders of nations and of groups can manipulate the meaning and value that their followers attributed to their political aims. Devji demonstrated how deliberate strategic manipulation of constructivist social foundations can re-frame issues of ethno-political identity, and of religious understanding and the re-defining of social norms along faith based lines in Islamic countries for instance.
Second, manipulation is not just something that occurs within conflicts by participants but, as Schmitz and Hellyer have shown, outside actors can also change the meaning of conflict dynamics and alter the focus of internal actors to more closely align with macro aspirations, as …show more content…
Noor, Merari and Gosh have each explored how manipulation of common social issues such as feelings of oppression, discrimination and victimization can be effectively utilized to create narrative bridges emphasising shared experiences, common histories and mutual enemies. However it is important to note that macro narratives do not have to be successfully descended and grafted to an entire population, or even a majority to be effective. So long as narrative descendancy process are successful in reframing conflict for the direct participants (fighters and operatives) and also at a minimum, their direct support bases, transnational macro narratives have the capability to alter the outcomes of local
Constructivism offers a number of methods to understanding narrative descendancy. First, that ideas, beliefs and meanings are malleable and in conflict and they are able to be fitted to the situation, i.e. actors involved in violent conflict may create conflict-supporting narratives which provide explanation and authorization for their involvement. Likewise constructivism demonstrates that leaders of nations and of groups can manipulate the meaning and value that their followers attributed to their political aims. Devji demonstrated how deliberate strategic manipulation of constructivist social foundations can re-frame issues of ethno-political identity, and of religious understanding and the re-defining of social norms along faith based lines in Islamic countries for instance.
Second, manipulation is not just something that occurs within conflicts by participants but, as Schmitz and Hellyer have shown, outside actors can also change the meaning of conflict dynamics and alter the focus of internal actors to more closely align with macro aspirations, as …show more content…
Noor, Merari and Gosh have each explored how manipulation of common social issues such as feelings of oppression, discrimination and victimization can be effectively utilized to create narrative bridges emphasising shared experiences, common histories and mutual enemies. However it is important to note that macro narratives do not have to be successfully descended and grafted to an entire population, or even a majority to be effective. So long as narrative descendancy process are successful in reframing conflict for the direct participants (fighters and operatives) and also at a minimum, their direct support bases, transnational macro narratives have the capability to alter the outcomes of local