Intergenerational resilience and anticipation of conflict and natural disaster

This explorative project investigates how descendants of survivors of violent conflict anticipate and respond to potential, future disaster – both potential new conflict and natural hazards. The long-term and intergenerational impact of violent conflict on vulnerability is well documented. This study explores intergenerational resilience and adaption instead.

To this end we conduct ethnographic research to identify anticipatory practices in the face of potential new disaster (including ‘man-made’ conflict) among the post-war/genocide generation in Rwanda. In addition, we explore locally embedded understandings of resilience and how this may be fostered intergenerationally. Research takes place with young people and their (grand)parents in Rubavu sector, western Rwanda, where tensions along the Congo-Rwanda border persist and recently escalated, and where flooding is a yearly concern for many of the inhabitants.

The study addresses the timely need to deepen insight into intergenerational resilience in the realm of recurring disaster, and contributes to new understandings of entanglements of ‘natural’ and ‘manmade’ calamities.