Johanna Söderström asks how is the life of the returning former combatant infused with politics, as seen from a global perspective?
About the Seminar
How society should deal with the return of former combatants is a centuries-old question. Overcoming war includes understanding the individuals involved in both war and peacemaking. In this seminar I will talk about my current book project which demonstrates how the process of coming home shapes the political commitment and identity of former combatants, and how the legacy of war is a powerful reminder in the lives of these former combatants long after they have come home. For this book I have interviewed former combatants from three very different wars, Vietnam veterans in the USA, former independence fighters from Namibia, and former M19 guerrilla in Colombia. This book aims to contribute to a more unified understanding of how and under what conditions former combatants engage in political mobilization after disarmament, thereby bridging some of the divides in the literature. In this seminar I try to offer a glimpse into how the legacy of the war and how being a veteran have shaped their political life histories. I see these personal life histories as constitutive of how a society transitions from war.
About NIAS Seminars
NIAS Seminars are aimed to stimulate scientific cross-pollination within the NIAS academic community, but seminars are open to others who are interested. Please let us know if you wish to attend.