As Memory Fades into History in Rural Guatemala: Creating Space for Peace and Reconciliation Among Ex-Combatants — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Instructions

Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
A clear description of the methods used to achieve the purpose or goals for the work.
A statement of the conclusions, results, outcomes, or recommendations, or if the work is still in progress, the results you expect to report at the event.

Presenter photographs should be head and shoulder shots comparable to passport photos.

Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

As Memory Fades into History in Rural Guatemala: Creating Space for Peace and Reconciliation Among Ex-Combatants

Name: Paige Myers
Major: History and Sociology
Hometown: Brooklyn Park, MN
Faculty Sponsor: Stephanie Mitchell
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Senior thesis
Funding: FRSC Undergraduate Research Grant

Abstract

This work is the continuation of four weeks of original data collection and extensive research on the use of a historical narrative as the vehicle to social action within a small socialist community in northern Guatemala in 2015. The goal of this research is to further expand on my prior research with an emphasis on the internal challenges this community faces. These challenges stem from the lack of reconciliation that took place in Guatemala following the 36-year civil war between the Guatemalan government and the guerilla forces of the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG). This research asks, how the community has created space for healing and reconciling with the memory of the conflict as a means to development and continuing the struggle? This research is supported through four weeks of ethnographic research in the same community in January 2016. Reconciliation occurs through the invented means of creative thinking of ex-combatant leaders in the community. Themes of solidarity, sustainability, and continuing the fight sin armas (without arms), are integral to the continued development of the community. This research also explores the conflict among sub-groups based on gender, age, and community status that hinder development and reconciliation processes.

Poster file