Founding Myths and Peace Building Processes In Post-Conflict Cambodia

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. The theoretical frame of research

1.1. Transitional Justice

1.2. Peace Building

2. Case study: Cambodia

2.1. Historical Background

2.2. The Cambodian Founding Myth

2.3. Does the Cambodian Post-Conflict Victim Founding Myth Promote Peace Building?

3. Critical Perspective on the Role of Founding Myths in Peace Building Processes

3.1. The Potential of Victim Founding Myths to Contribute to Peace Building

3.2. Limits of Post-Conflict Victim Founding Myths in Promoting Peace Building

4. The Issue of Exporting the Founding Myth Analysis Concept in non-European Regions

Research Objectives and Core Themes

This thesis examines the role and contribution of new Cambodian founding myths in post-conflict peacebuilding, specifically analyzing whether transitional national narratives serve as constructive foundations for sustainable peace and security in a country emerging from the Khmer Rouge regime.

• Analysis of transitional justice and peacebuilding frameworks in the Cambodian context.
• Evaluation of top-down and bottom-up narratives and their influence on national identity.
• Exploration of the intersection between social-psychological trauma and structural peacebuilding.
• Investigation into the impact of religious and cultural traditions on national redefinition.
• Assessment of the potential for exporting founding myth analysis models to non-Western regions.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: This chapter contextualizes Cambodia’s historical trajectory of repression and conflict, establishing the research goal of evaluating how founding myths influence post-conflict peacebuilding.

1. The theoretical frame of research: This section defines the concepts of transitional justice and peacebuilding, exploring their interconnections and their roles in shaping post-conflict societies.

2. Case study: Cambodia: This chapter provides a detailed historical background and examines the formation of different narrative strings in Cambodia, specifically the development of the victim-centered founding myth.

3. Critical Perspective on the Role of Founding Myths in Peace Building Processes: A normative-analytical chapter that assesses the potential and limitations of victim founding myths in promoting sustainable peace.

4. The Issue of Exporting the Founding Myth Analysis Concept in non-European Regions: This final chapter evaluates the applicability of the founding myth analysis model to non-Western and religious countries in the context of post-conflict identity formation.

Keywords

Cambodia, Founding Myths, Peacebuilding, Transitional Justice, Victim Narrative, National Identity, Post-Conflict, Khmer Rouge, Collective Memory, Reconciliation, Social-Psychological, Democratization, Survivor, Impunity, Narratives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this thesis?

The thesis investigates the role of post-conflict founding myths in Cambodia and how these narratives contribute to the country's peacebuilding and national redefinition processes.

Which central topics are addressed?

Key topics include the intersection of transitional justice, the psychological needs of survivors, the influence of Buddhist traditions, and the role of international aid in shaping Cambodian national identity.

What is the main research question?

The research explores whether transitional definitions of the nation, manifested through founding myths, play a constructive role in promoting sustainable peace and security in post-conflict Cambodia.

Which methodology does the author apply?

The study uses a qualitative research approach, employing a combination of normative and explanatory analyses based on existing secondary literature, documentation, and materials related to Cambodia's transformation.

What does the main body of the work cover?

It provides a historical analysis of Cambodia’s political regimes, identifies three specific narrative strings, examines the institutional impact of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), and discusses the limits of current peacebuilding strategies.

Which keywords best describe this research?

The research is best characterized by terms such as Cambodia, founding myths, peacebuilding, transitional justice, victim narrative, and collective memory.

How does the Cambodian Buddhist tradition influence the founding myths?

Buddhism serves as both a cultural anchor for national identity and, at times, a conservative force that promotes passivity and encourages the acceptance of status quo power structures, which can conflict with the more active demands for accountability in the victim narrative.

What role do international actors play in the development of these myths?

International actors exert significant influence through financial aid and the promotion of democratic norms, yet the author argues that successful founding myths must emerge from domestic impulses rather than being imposed from the outside.

Why is the ECCC considered significant in this study?

The ECCC serves as a critical institutional milestone where the victim narrative finally finds judicial expression, helping to bridge the gap between grassroots memory and official state acknowledgment.