Beyond the Cautionary Tale: Navigating Current Conflict with the Help of Forward-Looking Storytelling

In the context of peace and conflict studies, storytelling is often viewed as a useful tool that allows us to make sense of real moments of conflict that happened in the past and learn from them in order to prevent similar crises from ever happening again. However, the applicability of any insight gained through retrospective storytelling is naturally limited to new conflicts that are at least similar to the ones we have already faced in the past. The lessons learned do not necessarily prepare us to face the threat of more novel conflicts that are emerging for the very first time. This essay highlights ways of employing narrative that prioritize looking forward over looking backward, that are preventive rather than reactive, and that can equip us with the tools to oppose the threat of present and future conflicts in real time.