Historical memory, cultural violence, and conflict: the genealogy of dehumanization in Israel and Palestine

This chapter explores the process of identity building in protracted conflicts,conflict focusing on Israel and Palestine. By discussing the relationship between historical memorymemoryhistorical, collective traumatraumacollective, and narratives of the self in conflict situations, I argue that the negative dimension of identity building - de-identification or detachment from the other - takes precedence in cases of protracted conflictsconflictprotracted, leading to identity anxiety and ontological insecurity being associated with the perspective of peace. Moreover, this process feeds back into the cycle of protractedness through the development of dehumanizing narratives and practices. By mobilizing the concept of cultural violence, I show that dehumanization in these contexts functions as both a fuel to conflict - through moral disengagement - and as a coping mechanism that legitimizes the continuation of violenceviolence and conflict. I apply this framework to analyze the escalation of violence since Hamas’s attacks against Israel and Israel’s response in October 2023October 7 attacks.