Dreams, night visions and decolonial aspirations: researching pluriversal visions of peace in Eastern DRC

Astrid Jamar


Taking dreams seriously, my research seeks to articulate alternative ways of ‘understanding the world’ in conflict-affected environments. Knowledges produced about peace interventions are often articulated around responses to root-causes of violence. Increasingly conflict studies acknowledge peacebuilding limitations due to their western-centric logics. South Kivu is an emblematic example in which extensive peace interventions had limited success in sustaining peace. Researching the dreamlife responds to the urgent need to appreciate alternative ways of knowing violence and managing peacebuilding. Sensorial, bodily, spiritual dimensions of dreams will be mobilized to discuss underlying pluriversalism. In this presentation, I will discuss how the project builds upon feminist decolonial scholarship and arts-based methods.