A study of post-war Acholi people: How to cope with stress in an environment of ongoing conflict?

White, Ashley Solange ; Andersen, Helle

4. term

Global Refugee Studies, Master

2017

2017-07-28

89

Efter at kampene i det nordlige Uganda er stilnet af, er det vigtigt at se ud over den akutte lidelse og i stedet på de langsigtede virkninger i hverdagen. Gennem feltarbejde i Gulu fandt vi, at perioden efter konflikten er præget af, at mestring bliver en hovedopgave, fordi mange samtidige kilder til stress former Acholi-folks liv. Denne afhandling kortlægger de vigtigste stressfaktorer i Acholi-samfundet og undersøger, hvordan folk håndterer dem. Vi gør det ikke kun for at forstå krigens langvarige følger, men også for at vurdere, om betegnelsen postkonflikt er dækkende, eller om Acholi lever med en form for fortsat konflikt. Målet er ikke at tilbyde løsninger; i stedet bruger vi teori til at skabe et mere nuanceret billede af de nuværende vilkår på tre niveauer: staten, lokalsamfundet og husholdningen. Analysen består af fire dele: (1) et makroperspektiv på stressfaktorer knyttet til statslige praksisser; (2) et mesoperspektiv på lokalsamfundsniveau; (3) et mikroperspektiv på husholdningsniveau; og (4) en syntese, der bruger stressfaktorer og mestringsmønstre til at vurdere, om situationen peger på en igangværende konflikt. Undervejs formidler vi de historier, erfaringer og opfattelser af hverdagen, vi lærte gennem sociale interaktioner i Gulu, og vi ser på, om Acholi anvender aktiv mestring, undgåelse eller resignation.

As fighting has subsided in Northern Uganda, it is important to look beyond immediate trauma to the long-term effects on daily life. Through fieldwork in Gulu, we found that the post-conflict period is defined by coping as a priority, because many overlapping sources of stress shape Acholi people’s lives. This thesis identifies the main stressors in Acholi society and examines how people deal with them. We do so not only to understand the lasting impacts of war, but also to reconsider whether the term post-conflict is accurate or whether Acholi people live with a form of continuing conflict. Our aim is not to propose solutions; instead, we apply theory to build a fuller picture of current conditions at three levels: the state, the community, and the household. The analysis is presented in four parts: (1) a macro, state-level view of stressors; (2) a meso, community-level view; (3) a micro, household-level view; and (4) a synthesis that uses these stressors and coping patterns to assess whether the situation reflects an ongoing conflict. Throughout, we share the stories, experiences, and perceptions of everyday life gathered through social interaction in Gulu, and we consider whether Acholi people rely on active coping, avoidance, or resignation.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

Northern Uganda ; Acholi ; conflict ; stress ; stress stimuli ; coping strategies ; corruption ; brutality ; land disputes ; crisis in masculinity ; ongoing conflict

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White, Ashley Solange:

• A study of post-war Acholi people: How to cope with stress in an environment of ongoing conflict? (2017)

Andersen, Helle:

• A study of post-war Acholi people: How to cope with stress in an environment of ongoing conflict? (2017)