Expanding the Edges of Narrative Inquiry

This captivating book presents innovative answers to the question: why storytelling? Each chapter represents leading edge narrative research designs from Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace and Justice in central Canada, one of the world’s leading academic programs for Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), and a major contributor to PACS scholarship. The authors are candid and offer inspiration for other scholars seeking groundbreaking ideas for their own research design while offering profound expansions to the current PACS literature. The scholarship reflects a diversity of ideas, passions, approaches, disciplinary roots, and topic areas. Each chapter explores different and critical issues in the field of PACS through various forms of storytelling, while providing recent original research designs for the future development of the field and the education of its practitioners and academics. This volume, co-edited by three of the early graduates of the program, presents and explores a number of these issues across the broad spectrum of Peace and Conflict Studies. Contributors to the book are recognized scholars and practitioners in their respective fields. The book has a wide audience, targeting those particularly interested in tackling and understanding old conflicts in new ways, and for those seeking to learn at the growing edges of PACS, at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels.

“Written by a blend of academic veterans and emerging scholars who work in the field of peace and social justice studies, Expanding the Edges of Narrative Enquiry is an important new contribution to the academic literature on storytelling and the powerful impact this discipline has in local communities.”, "As Jessica Senehi notes, storytelling empowers people to act to build and reshape their culture by sharing knowledge and negotiating group identity while creating a sense of who they are and where they come from. This edited collection notes that storytelling is at the very core of peacemaking and peacebuilding. It is a book that will be read by students, scholars, policymakers, and those interested in the regenerative and transcultural power of constructive storytelling.", “From the opening chapter’s answer to the question ‘Why Storytelling?’ to the concluding remarks claiming narratives have the power to ‘unearth unrecognized streams of meaning’ and ‘humanize one another,’ these chapters of original research will enhance readers’ understanding of the rich mosaic of the human experience. This edited volume from scholars associated with the highly regarded Mauro Institute is an important and compelling contribution to scholars in peace and conflict studies, as well as to anyone who wants to share heartfelt stories of the many ways ‘social systems, cultures and situations impact a person’ and contribute to our mysterious life journey.”, “Expanding the Edges of Narrative Enquiry is timely in presenting the application of storytelling methodologies for use within the complex arenas of conflict at the edge of gender, race and ethnicity, identity, and culture. Through the use of narrative, arts, photography, poetry, and theater, we hear the voices of those experiencing violence within the context of war, sex trafficking, and prostitution; we also hear the voices of those engaging the disruptive, divisive, and painful conflicts present within communities and social structures. We hear the brutality of violence while we also hear the hope that comes from facing conflict, building relationships, claiming voice, and committing to change. “, “This is without doubt a timely and state-of-the-art account. Fresh and vibrant with case studies and impressive for its conceptual innovation and analytic depth, this book needs to be read by all who wish to understand the exciting new frontiers of transformative peacebuilding.”

Laura E. Reimer is research associate with the Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace and Justice.Katerina Standish is deputy director at the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago.Chuck Thiessen is associate professor at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University.