Speaking of Violence: The Politics and Poetics of Narrative in Conflict Resolution (Explorations in Narrative Psychology)

In the context of ongoing or historical violence, people tell stories about what happened, who did what to whom and why. Yet frequently, the speaking of violence reproduces the social fractures and delegitimizes, again, those that struggle against their own marginalization. This speaking of violence deepens conflict and all too often perpetuates cycles of violence. Alternatively, sometimes people do not speak of the violence and it is erased, buried with the bodies that bear it witness. This reduces the capacity of the public to address issues emerging in the aftermath of violence and repression. This book takes the notion of "narrative" as foundational to conflict analysis and resolution. Distinct from conflict theories that rely on accounts of attitudes or perceptions in the heads of individuals, this narrative perspective presumes that meaning, structured and organized as narrative processes, is the location for both analysis of conflict, as well as intervention. But meaning is political, in that not all stories can be told, or the way they are told delegitimizes and erases others. Thus, the critical narrative theory outlined in this book offers a normative approach to narrative assessment and intervention. It provides a way of evaluating narrative and designing "better-formed" stories: "better" in that they are generative of sustainable relations, creating legitimacy for all parties. In so doing, they function aesthetically and ethically to support the emergence of new histories and new futures. Indeed, critical narrative theory offers a new lens for enabling people to speak of violence in ways that undermine the intractability of conflict Law and English Railway Capitalism 1825-1875 is the first large-scale historical treatment of the relationship between English law and the rise of a leading sector of 19th century industrial enterprise. It examines the impact of English common law and lawyers on the early steam railway industry. Grounded in a wide variety of legal and industrial source materials, the study's eight analytical narrative chapters examine a range of interactions between early railway capitalism and the evolving culture, doctrine, and procedures of Victorian lawyers. Subjects considered in depth include the legal ramifications of the great railway manias, law and the infiltration of the English countryside, railway accidents, corporate monopolism, and the organization of England's first corporate legal departments. Each chapter contributes to an ambitious general interpretation of the engagement of an ancient and powerful legal system with a new and dynamic form of industrial capitalism. This Text Takes The Notion Of 'narrative' As Foundational To Conflict Analysis And Resolution. Distinct From Conflict Theories That Rely On Accounts Of Attitudes Or Perceptions In The Heads Of Individuals, This Narrative Perspective Presumes That Meaning, Structured And Organized As Narrative Processes Is The Location For Both Analysis Of Conflict, As Well As Intervention. Speaking Of Violence -- Conflict Narrative Structure And Relational Dynamics -- The Evolution Of Conflict Narratives -- Radicalized Narratives -- Power Dynamics Of Conflict Narratives: Towards A Critical Narrative Theory -- Witnessing The Speaking Subject Within Conflict Narrative Regimes -- Aesthetic Criteria For Humanizing Narratives -- Aesthetic Ethics As Narrative Practice -- Conflict Resolution As Narrative Practice: Emerging Better-formed Stories -- Narrative Poetics As A Foundation For Politics In Conflict Resolution. Sara Cobb. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Annotation This lively and entertaining historical study examines the impact of English common law and lawyers on the early steam railway industry. Grounded in a wide variety of legal and industrial source materials, the study's analytical narrative chapters examine a range of interactions between early railway capitalism and the evolving culture, doctrine, and procedures of Victorian lawyers. Rande Kostal's study includes an in-depth analysis of the legal ramifications of the great railway manias, law and the infiltration of the English countryside, railway accidents, corporate monopolism, and the organization of England's first corporate legal departments. This superbly crafted interpretation of the profound but ambiguous engagement of common law and lawyering with a dynamic sector of the world's first industrial economy contains much that will be of interest to legal historians as well as railway enthusiasts

This lively and entertaining historical study examines the impact of English common law and lawyers on the early steam railway industry. Grounded in a wide variety of legal and industrial source materials, the study's analytical narrative chapters examine a range of interactions between early railway capitalism and the evolving culture, doctrine, and procedures of Victorian lawyers. Rande Kostal's study includes an in-depth analysis of the legal ramifications of the great railway manias, law and the infiltration of the English countryside, railway accidents, corporate monopolism, and the organization of England's first corporate legal departments. This superbly crafted interpretation of the profound but ambiguous engagement of common law and lawyering with a dynamic sector of the world's first industrial economy contains much that will be of interest to legal historians as well as railway enthusiasts.

Law and English Railway Capitalism 1825-1875 is the first full-scale historical study of the relationship between the English legal system and a leading sector of early English industrial enterprise. It offers a provocative interpretation of the profound but ambiguous engagement of common law and lawyering with a dynamic sector of the worlds first industrial economy.