Language and De-/Escalation of Conflict in Aceh, Indonesia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14764/10.ASEAS-0122

Keywords:

Aceh, Conflict, De-/Escalation, Everyday Peacebuilding, Language

Abstract

This article examines the role of language in the de-/escalation of the Aceh conflict. Our analysis is situated at the crossroads of the literature on language and conflict and the literature on the micro-dynamics of violent conflict and everyday peacebuilding. We suggest that language, as a fundamental element of social engagement, although often overlooked in peace and conflict studies, plays a pivotal role in intensifying and alleviating conflicts. Through a case study of the conflict in Aceh, this article asks how power relations, discrimination, and violence are played out through language in the context of micro-level everyday realities. The analysis draws on interviews and focus group discussions conducted from 2014 to 2020 with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including village heads, religious and cultural leaders, businesspeople, civilians, and former combatants. We employ vignettes to illustrate the various ways in which language has been used for conflict de-/escalation in the conflict in Aceh. Our analysis identifies several mechanisms through which language contributes to de-/escalate conflict.

Author Biographies

Wening Udasmoro, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Wening Udasmoro is a Professor of Literature and Gender at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. Her main research interests are literature, gender issues, violence, identity politics, and critical discourse analysis.

Rahel Kunz, University of Lausanne

Rahel Kunz is a lecturer at the Institute of Political, Historical and International Studies of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Her main research interests are conflict, peacebuilding, and gender.

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Published

2025-04-29

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Section

Current Research on Southeast Asia