Project on Asymmetric Narrative Approaches
“In the realm of military affairs and national security, asymmetry is acting, organizing, and thinking differently than opponents in order to maximize one’s own advantages, exploit an opponent’s weaknesses, attain the initiative, or gain greater freedom of action (Metz and Johnson, 2001).”
In the realm of conflict resolution, the Project on Asymmetric Narrative Approaches at the Center for Narratives and Conflict Resolution is thinking, engaging, and acting differently than the “Battle of the Narrative” in order to promote the identification, development, assessment, and dissemination of narrative solutions interrupting cycles of violence.
Activities in support of this partnership include:
Research Hub. Receive unclassified field reports from the Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG) and offer affiliate faculty, scholars, graduate, and undergraduate students the opportunity to do research.
“Conversations on Practice.” Host AWG and other partners at brown bags, lectures, or seminars on topics of collaborative interest.
Workshops. Facilitate workshops and seminars to discover narrative conflict resolution.
Publication. Facilitate publication of research and narrative solutions to ensure the knowledge gained from this partnership is disseminated to the widest audience.
Consultation. Provide advice on capability development solutions in the practice of narrative intervention in conflicts.
Metz, S., & Johnson II, D. V. (2001). Asymmetry and US Military Strategy: Definition. Background, and Strategic Concepts (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College, 5).