Memory and Conflict

The authors contrast the 'abuse of memory'—where past injustices are manipulated to legitimize violence—with an 'anamnetic' approach that uses personal and collective memory to find common human ground. Drawing on Paul Ricoeur, they argue that memory carries a 'duty of justice' toward others, particularly victims. To provide a practical alternative to divisive memory, the authors analyze the works of Augustine, Dante, and Petrarch, arguing that these thinkers view memory as a path from particular, personal experience toward universal truths and divine love. The paper concludes that while ideological memory separates, a conscious 'work of memory' can facilitate dialogue and reconciliation by recognizing shared human patterns of existence.

• Violent conflicts frequently employ the 'abuse of memory' by using real or contested past injustices to legitimize current causes and create resentment. This is exemplified by the Slobodan Milosevic government's use of the 1389 battle at Kosovo Polje and Anders Behring Breivik's 2011 manifesto, which combined myths and nationalism to justify the killing of 77 people in Norway.
• Paul Ricoeur identifies three categories of abused memory: blocked, manipulated, and abusively controlled. He argues that the ethical use of memory is an 'imperative of justice' that requires a duty to the 'other than the self,' specifically prioritizing the victims of the past over self-serving ideological constructions.
• Augustine presents memory as an active mental faculty that allows individuals to move from personal experience to a universal human quest for happiness and God. He suggests that by digging into personal memory, one discovers a 'light of truth' common to all humans, thereby using memory as a unifying rather than a separating force.
• Dante's 'Vita Nuova' illustrates an anamnetic process where the 'book of memory' serves as a road from particular, earthly love to universal, divine love. This retrospective process allows the protagonist to move from self-centeredness to a transcendent understanding of the divine.
• Petrarch uses the memory of his beloved Laura to demonstrate how disturbing or private memories can be integrated and harmonized to serve an ennobling purpose. His work highlights the struggle to ensure memory leads to a deeper appreciation of universal love rather than destructive lust.
• The authors contrast the Christian approach to memory with Marxist or progressivist views. While the latter often view the past as a 'nightmare' or a brake on progress to be overcome, the Christian perspective views memory as an indispensable tool for understanding humanity and overcoming injustice through openness to a unifying view of fellow human beings.
• Eric Voegelin's philosophy supports a non-ideological use of memory (anamnesis) that connects personal consciousness to a 'cosmic whole' and the 'ground of being.' He argues that reflecting on one's own consciousness can lead to a deeper, general human understanding of existence rather than reinforcing in-group differences.

APA

Syse, H., & Bjornes, A. (2016). Memory and Conflict. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/140b984d-ca90-410d-b32f-6b73ff2e1106/Memory and Conflict Reflections on the Abuse of Memory - and on Finding Community through Memory.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Syse, Henrik, and Asbjørn Bjornes. Memory and Conflict. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2016. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/140b984d-ca90-410d-b32f-6b73ff2e1106/Memory and Conflict Reflections on the Abuse of Memory - and on Finding Community through Memory.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Syse |first1=Henrik |last2=Bjornes |first2=Asbjørn |title=Memory and Conflict |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=2016 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/140b984d-ca90-410d-b32f-6b73ff2e1106/Memory and Conflict Reflections on the Abuse of Memory - and on Finding Community through Memory.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{syse2016memory, author = {Syse, Henrik and Bjornes, Asbjørn}, title = {{Memory and Conflict}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2016}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/140b984d-ca90-410d-b32f-6b73ff2e1106/Memory and Conflict Reflections on the Abuse of Memory - and on Finding Community through Memory.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }