What is it about?
Instead of resolving conflict, this paper finds that blood vengeance plays a key role in perpetuating cycles of conflict in the Middle East where it is pernicious. As a cultural phenomenon, blood vengeance has a long history that pre-dates Islam, which has been consolidated over time using narrative strategies. Storytelling helps to define what is heroic behaviour, repeating and perpetuating a message that poetic incitement can transform into violent acts.
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Why is it important?
Militant jihadist fighters use verse to incite to vengeance, using the Arabic poetic tradition to legitimise their messaging. This paper also outlines some ways in which to undermine the blood vengeance message.
Perspectives
I hope that this paper will be thought-provoking and offer an alternative way of understanding at least some of the drivers behind conflict, particularly at a time when a troubled region is increasingly being reported in the news.
Dena Fakhro
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Conclusions of the Study, April 2024, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004725508_012.
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