"The past decade has seen an increase in research on narratives in extremist communication and their role in radicalization processes as well as on both counter- and alternative narratives as tools to prevent or counter radicalization processes. Conspicuously absent from the P/CVE literature so far,
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however, is a discussion on fictional narratives and the potential of stories not based on ‘realistic’ presentations of life. This article is an exploratory contribution to the discourse suggesting how fictional narratives, low in external realism but eliciting a high degree of transportation and identification in audiences, may be useful tools for P/CVE campaigns built on narratives and storytelling. It discusses the importance of transportation, identification, and perceived realism for narrative persuasion as well as the possibility to use fictional utopian narratives in P/CVE campaigns." (Abstract)
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"This project has explored the ways in which an independent, public service-spirited media could create content about historical issues that avoids playing into propaganda-driven divides, fosters a more constructive discourse around history and brings Ukrainians into a common national conversation.
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The results of our project will also be of use to public diplomats, civic actors and educators, as well as to media outlets that share our aim of reducing polarisation in Ukraine and other countries, and building resilient societies with a full, free and evidencedriven public debate. Arena began the project with polling and segmentation analysis that investigated Ukrainians’ attitudes to history, political beliefs, identity and social values. We then held focus groups designed to identify the common concerns that unite Ukrainians. Using various insights from that analysis and the advice of prominent historians, we worked with Hromadske, an independent Ukrainan online media outlet, to create 16 pieces of video content. Finally, we explored polarised audiences’ reactions to these videos by measuring levels of online engagement and carrying out opinion polls, focusing in particular on the levels of trust." (Executive summary)
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"Social media increasingly shapes the way in which we perceive conflicts and conflict parties abroad. Conflict parties, therefore, have started using social media strategically to influence public opinion abroad. This book explores the phenomenon by examining, (1) which strategies of external commun
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ication conflict parties use during asymmetric conflicts and (2) what shapes the selection of these communication strategies. In a comprehensive case study of the conflict in Israel and Palestine, Bernd Hirschberger shows that the selection of strategies of external communication is shaped by the (asymmetric) conflict structure." (Publisher description)
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"In der öffentlichen Debatte wird Online-Videos aus dem Spektrum des radikalen Islam zugeschrieben, einen großen Einfluss auf junge Menschen auszuüben. Doch wie nehmen junge Muslim*innen und Nicht-Muslim*innen diese Videos tatsächlich wahr? Wie stark wird ihre Sicht auf die Inhalte von ihrem Rel
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igionsverständnis, ihrer sozialen Zugehörigkeit und aktuellen politischen und gesellschaftlichen Debatten in Deutschland beeinflusst? Diese qualitative Studie untersucht die Rezeption ausgewählter radikalislamischer Videos von Marcel Krass, Ahmad Armih (bekannt unter dem Pseudonym »Ahmad Abul Baraa«) sowie von Yasin Bala (»Yasin al-Hanafi«)." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"The role that the news media play in wartime has been an important topic in journalism scholarship. Peace journalism has become a popular concept in the study of the media’s role in conflicts in the early 21st century. This literature review seeks to determine whether peace journalism can be cons
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idered a tool for the field of media development, formulating some concrete recommendations for practitioners. Defining the core tenets of peace journalism, it discusses the ways in which journalists have been perceived as contributors to peace and the extents to which this notion has been both criticised and used in media development. In conclusion, the review points to future research to help deepen the understanding of this approach and the potential for its implementation." (Abstract)
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"[...] Im günstigen Falle bilden Bibliotheken, Archive, Museen, Forschungseinrichtungen und Medien mit digitalen Angeboten, geeignet kontextualisiert und erklärt, Anlaufpunkte der Orientierung und befördern den Diskurs über den Nationalsozialismus und die damit verbundenen abscheulichen Gräuelt
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aten. Diese Institutionen können zusammen als „Stimmen der Vernunft“ in die Resonanzräume des Internets gegen die Polemik der „Schnellen und Lauten“ wirken, die diese öffentlichen Räume auch zur Verbreitung nationalsozialistischen Gedankenguts nutzen. Im vorliegenden Tagungsband wird die kritische, transdisziplinäre Debatte zur zentralen Frage nach dem „richtigen“, das heißt verantwortungsvollen Um gang mit „toxischen“ Inhalten geführt. Sie widmet sich den rechtlichen und ethischen, aber auch organisatorischen, technischen, und gesellschaftlichen Aspekten dieser Frage. Ich wünsche diesem Tagungsband aufmerksame Leser*innen und der Debatte die erforderliche Gestaltungskraft, so dass daraus Impulse für den umsichtigen Umgang mit den Digitalisaten der NS-Zeit erwachsen." (Begleitwort Seite 15)
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"¿Qué quiere decir la paz? Esta pregunta parece ser elemental; sin embargo, es difícil definirla. Esta investigación profundiza el análisis teórico y sociológico de la paz abordando las negociaciones entre el Estado colombiano y las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia. Se parte del pr
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incipio de que la paz, lejos de ser un concepto único, contempla una amplia gama de interpretaciones, articulada de manera diferenciada por los actores. Su objetivo es analizar la cobertura mediática de seis periódicos en torno a las negociaciones para determinar el tipo de paz que cada medio esbozó en su línea editorial. Por medio de un análisis de discurso de 568 editoriales, se construyó una tipología con cinco enfoques: securitario, liberal, constructivista, plural y ambiental. La mayoría de análisis en estudios de paz se enfocan en otros actores, excluyendo a los medios. El artículo demuestra que estos exhiben contribuciones sustanciales a los enfoques alternativos de paz." (Resumen)
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"[...] this toolkit aims to support civil society generally, while explicitly accommodating the needs and contexts of the local partners that work with the Global Initiative for Justice, Truth and Reconciliation. In this sense, it pays particular attention to creating and sharing advocacy campaigns
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that amplify the voices of survivors and address the holistic needs of communities emerging from conflict. This toolkit also offers suggestions for navigating complications that are common in post-conflict settings, including security concerns and taboos around discussing painful histories. Intended as a concise guide, it provides general advice on developing, implementing, and launching advocacy campaigns. The toolkit is made available alongside a range of images that were designed in partnership with Amplifier, a nonprofit design lab that builds art and media experiments to amplify the most important movements of our times." (About this toolkit)
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"This essay argues that communications and narrative must occupy a much more central part of the vision of transitional justice, as in the early years of the field. In some cases, the opportunity is ample, because a clear and inclusive nation-building project is underway. Then, it is critical for tr
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ansitional justice institutions to latch their work onto the project, so that a critical mass of citizens may internalise that work as an organic aspect of the broader process of reshaping the society’s values and identity. If transitional justice is not part of such a nationbuilding project – because it never existed or was abandoned – narrative becomes even more important. In these cases, the primary goal of the transitional justice institutions’ communications strategy must be more in the nature of community building, in the literal and normative sense of the term. Such work implies identifying and if necessary forging coalitions of the groups and individuals who are most invested in a larger nation building and value transformation process. This constituency can include victims’ families, survivors, civil society and youth groups, ethnic and religious leaders, and all those in the media, academia and politics who have a broadly shared vision as to why the legacy of past abuse must be faced and never repeated." (Page 1)
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