Engaging Conflict History and Memory Across the Taiwan Strait: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Conflict Timelines from Interactive Conflict Resolution ( <scp>ICR</scp> ) Dialogues

An analysis of twenty pairs Taiwanese and mainland Chinese timelines cross-Strait relations demonstrates a highly dynamic way in which the two societies' conflict memories have evolved over decades. These were developed context weeklong Interactive Conflict Resolution (ICR) dialogues that author facilitated. A cohort civil society delegates from both sides Strait, each with five persons, participated produced timelines. longitudinal content reveals participants' experiences continuously altered their mental frames conflict. It also distinct patterns recollections. findings challenge prevailing practices mapping uncritically presume static nature parties' goals. Broader implications study include usefulness action research applied practice for methodological innovations theory building. 经分析， 二十对海峡两岸关系时间线呈现了两个社会的冲突记忆在二十年间发生了高度动态的演变。这些时间线是在作者主持的二十个为期一周的互动冲突化解(ICR)对谈中形成的。每场对谈皆由来自海峡两岸各五位的民间社会代表参加，并由他们生产时间线。本研究对时间线的纵向内容分析显示，参与者对两岸关系的经历不断地改变他们对冲突的心理框架，并揭示他们回忆的独特规律。这些发现将挑战目前常规的冲突绘制和分析方法，因为这些方法欠缺批判性地假定了冲突各方目标的静态性质。该研究更广泛的影响包括展现行动研究和实践对方法论创新和理论建设的价值。 經分析，二十對海峽兩岸關系時間線呈現了兩個社會的沖突記憶在二十年間發生了高度動態的演變。這些時間線是在作者主持的二十個為期一周的互動沖突化解(ICR)對談中形成的。每場對談皆由來自海峽兩岸各五位的民間社會代表參加，並由他們產出時間線。本研究對時間線的縱向內容分析顯示，參與者對兩岸關系的經歷不斷地改變他們對沖突的心理框架，並揭示他們回憶的獨特規律。這些發現將挑戰目前常規的沖突繪製和分析方法，因為這些方法欠缺批判性地假定了沖突各方目標的靜態性質。該研究更廣泛的影響包括展現行動研究和實踐對方法論創新和理論建設的價值。 This is comparative, historical across Taiwan Strait. The by young participants resolution workshops Strait between 2005 2021. Drawing upon combined interdisciplinary insights memory peace research, this how to operationalize social make use knowledge resolution. In answering these questions, makes contribution introducing unique data sets ongoing dialogues. highlights complementary roles applying parties, practitioners, policymakers, researchers. Two concepts related are introduced defined at outset. first, memory, refers process remembering inputs outputs rely on materials obtained interactions learning (Olick, Vinitzky-Seroussi, Levy 2011). rationale concept human brain cannot generate its own without stimulating shaped, expressed, shared. term “social” relational, contextual, memory. rejects mechanical image as an autonomous device capable registering, storing, downloading second history, “an evolving cognitive universe conflict-affected seeks develop coherent explanation has emerged into present form” (Arai 2015: 227). history psychosocial state individuals groups who live long-standing identity-based role not explicitly stated but it implicit essential. article first provides brief profile Talk, youth-led dialogue initiative been adopted. Second, presents questions. Third, discusses study's conceptual foundations significance. Fourth, explains characteristics methodology. Fifth, findings, emphasizing structures dynamics Lastly, well research. Throughout article, terms “Taiwan” “(mainland) China” used describe respective geographic locations consequence Civil War (1927–1949), resulted 7.5 million military civilian deaths (White October 1949, Communist Party (CCP) under Chairman Mao Zedong established People's Republic China (PRC) achieved decisive victory Nationalist (Kuomintang or KMT). December some soldiers followers KMT, lost territories CCP, retreated Taiwan. With KMT's retreat, seat (ROC) moved Over next three decades, PRC waged strenuous campaigns international recognition, ultimately securing UN recognition 1972 U.S. 1979. When United States normalized ties PRC, severed official ROC instead close unofficial Although societies experienced profound transformations half-century, many defining elements remained intact, continuing influence perceptions other interpretations conflict's From perspective, stake disputed political status need ensure dignity, integrity, unity nation (Wang 2012; Arai 2016), rooted collective foreign interferences internal divisions long suffered 2012). central theme “Century Humiliation,” dark period began Qing dynasty's defeat First Opium Britain 1839–1842 paved invasions, unfair treaties, colonial rule Viewed reunification Taiwan, Japanese empire occupied 1895 1945, important step must take chapter nation's history. Reunification toward national rejuvenation—the CCP's vision strong dignified respected global stage. yearning freedom choose future outside interference (Roy 2003; including threat economic control. powerful driver quest security rise identities (Zuo Lin 2019), grounded building center around Western-styled market economy, democracy, speech, security, States, enduring legacies rule. Talk nonpartisan peacemaking. regularly brings together cohorts aged 18–35 China, using method. Widely practiced diverse past several ICR sustained, collaborative promoting relationship trained intermediaries work side all international, national, and/or intercommunal (Saunders 1999; Fisher 2016). jointly analyze sources, find mutually acceptable means contribute resolution, apply lessons change initiatives within they belong. While organizers conduct series same group participants, holds intensive one-time participants. was student volunteers Brown University respond deepening tensions. held annual seventeen years offered model chapters four universities: California Berkeley (operating 2009 Hong Kong 2011 National (ongoing since 2012), George Washington 2021). U.S.-based recruit English-speaking hold Chinese. By mid-2022, Talk's alumni numbered approximately one thousand. They play increasingly influential business, government, diplomacy, think tanks, academia, media, fields. exercise called “walk-through history,” early phase workshops. Developed Joseph Montville, former diplomat background psychology, walk-through experiential method facilitating self-reflections, dialogues, about (Montville 1993). adaptation involves asking teams participants—Chinese, Taiwanese, American—to meet separately hour. Each identifies eight events considers most explaining current writes event large sheet paper. collect them parallel floor. fifteen form single line walk slowly silently along As walk, reflect versions followed facilitated discussions discoveries learned 2015). Since founding twenty-three workshops—fifteen (since 2005), seven (2009–2015), (2021). workshops, gave instructions history; analyzes American scope excluded. Table One summarizes Years marked (x) indicate availability There no 2020 due COVID-19. inaugural 2021 workshop remotely. Analysis will follow. sample illustration. examples highlight promise analysis. set adopted took place six months after passage Anti-Secession Law, affirmed Beijing's preparedness force prevent Taiwan's independence. Explanations Two, Three follows, omitted because tables merely intended show what look like. workshop, started timeline unification 221 BC, stressing understanding having deep roots comes 2018 shorter than focus half-century emphasize movements protests; especially true timeline. shift emphasis be examined later. extends existing literatures does so demonstrating practical applications negotiations. [I]t people normally acquire memories. recall, recognize, localize memories….There point seeking whether [memories] preserved my nook mind I alone access: recalled me externally, am part any time give reconstruct them, condition, sure, turn adopt, least moment, thinking. (Halbwachs 1992: 38) pioneered Halbwachs further contemporary sociologists study. Collective interactive internalize shared express remembrances (Olick 1999). takes shape through “social cultural patternings public personal memory” 1999: 333). Institutionalized processes such commemorations ceremonies promote encourage members identity act together. Thus, special type formed community acting Examples formation commemorating September 11, 2001 Nanjing Massacre Memorial Day 13, 1937. large-scale create opportunities communities states nations mobilize constituents experience, express, transmit shared, institutionalized remembrance incorporating popular discourses, symbols, constructs thinking remember coordinated distinguished uncoordinated, individual development daily life. Contemporary researchers taken structuralist perspectives Durkheim, Halbwachs, pioneers Eviatar Zerubavel structure memory—patterns adopt when develop, sustain, generation generation. maintains “the meaning essentially function structurally positioned our minds vis-à-vis events” (Zerubavel 2003: 7). Based his extensive survey calendars, religious holidays, anniversaries, genealogies, ethnic dresses, artifacts, (2003) identified structural progress, decline, descent, zigzag, cycles. To fully appreciate commemorations, then, examine framework master commemorative narrative. particular thus calls examination commemoration relation significant group's past…[T]he narratives often suggest character, while narrative indicates recurrence experience. 1995: 7) key explain technologies memory—instruments recording communication employed person person, society, textbooks, films, pictures, memorials, museums, ceremonies, holidays. Jeffery Olick (1999) distinguishes psychosocial, neurological level collective, remembering. He argues systematic, institutional can acts experience views conceptualizes negotiated outcomes mnemonic frameworks corresponds selected communicate understand innovation research—a broad range methods approaches scientific designed constructive iterative, cumulative planning, action, observation, reflection (Lewin 1948; Dick 2009). Action participatory promotes decentralized, inclusive production. widely (Rothman 2018; Allen 2022). What data, operationalizes internalized conflict—memories externalized negotiations constructed tried gain greater clarity before presenting society. illustrate, come being pressures immediate sociopolitical reality” 4). “pressures” refer changing effects themselves apart artificial simulations experiments. should therefore artifacts practice. distinction informed literature study, short, carry out Its significance lies real-world Additional information participant selection noted earlier, eighteen thirty-five old. Eighty percent graduate undergraduate students twenty-five. However, recent seen gradual increase proportion professionals late twenties thirties affiliated academic institutions. Men women equally represented. Nonbinary included. Participant based open competition among applicants responded organizers' call, circulated academic, professional, networks. committee reviews application essays conducts virtual Zoom interviews shortlisted candidates. criteria are: (1) demonstrated commitment working issue academically, professionally, otherwise, (2) sufficient opinions, (3) leadership skills, (4) openness dialogue, (5) English proficiency. proficiency requirement likely peers either studied abroad amount university coursework home institutions had more exposure Western peers. Moreover, willingness listen controversial issues degree tolerance Still, observations emotional commitments heartfelt 2015, collection did follow random sampling, systematic reasons. First, response given facilitator seventeen-year period. consistently procedure recruitment. consistency recruitment ensured immersed following instructions. process, if only version could imagine. worth those came up different previous Figure illustrates quality reflections viewpoints. At juncture years, presented consensus view images necessarily represent neither expected nor able let governing authorities. fact receive list subsequently choices group-based inferred, therefore, consensus-building turned negotiated, organized forms inferred illustrate framed bounds oldest latest choice. Walk-through provide practitioners useful supporting negotiation, mediation, deepen self-awareness awareness noted, contains timeline, consists events. (As pair contained there total number 200.) collected units analysis—twenty pairs, forty timelines, 320 analysis, Holsti “any technique making inferences objectively systematically identifying specific messages” (Holsti 1969: 14). questions forth above, guided conducting general trends societies. Commonalities differences then examined. comparative commonalities times Analytical contextualized complemented descriptive statistics frequency. challenges validity relates out, products experiences, shaped structures. Persistent underlying patterns. identify discrete events, reduces organic snapshots moments. learning, runs risk fragmenting requires purposeful effort (LeCompte Schensul Countermeasures mitigate explanatory contextual Another difficulty determining counts event. freely chose own, descriptions Some (for example, led 1970s) “event”; 1979) process. goal variability framings interpreted flexibly requirements. Specifically, reason believe coded Such cases accounted explanations consistency. Finally, limitations generalizability acknowledged. builds hundred young, willingly university-educated willing learn other. claim direct relevance senior government officials. Nor References “Chinese” “Taiwanese” sections officials populations None limitations, however, undermines significance, demonstration dialogue. section starts overview lengths examines explores changes. establish bird's-eye length determined calculating last below, “S” stands spring (2009–2015). rest (2005–present) except Washington. suggests generally 1894–1895 (the Sino-Japanese Treaty Shimonoseki; see below) 1940s beginning choice Shimonoseki (called Maguan Chinese)—which required dynasty (1644–1911) cede empire—is anticipated watershed (China 2005, 2007, 2017, 2019, italicized Four) start pre-modern Psychologically, represents origin, legitimacy shows reference anomalous status.