Project Information

As part of the funding stream for Education in Conflict and Protracted Crises the AHRC Research Networking project ‘Conflict Resolution through Classical Literature’ forms connections between academic research in Classics and War Studies and peacebuilding education in two Latin American target countries: Brazil and Colombia. The project, led by Dr. Martin Dinter (Principal Investigator, King's College London) and Dr. David Whetham (Co-Investigator, King's College London), is characterised by its double aim of research and outreach.

In three workshops, participating scholars will produce new research on how Classical literature communicates and showcases conflict resolution skills, and develop ways of employing Classical literature in communicating these skills to conflict-affected youth. In so doing, they will examine ancient models of conflict resolution and map these onto the current political situation in Colombia and Brazil. In addition, they will evaluate how the Classics have historically informed pedagogical initiatives in these countries and devise ways in which ancient literature can continue to enhance peace-related education. Their conclusions will be published in both an edited volume (Workshops 1 and 2) as well as a special issue in an online open-access journal (Workshop 3).

The research encapsulated by these publications will be put to practical use: participating scholars will be asked to help produce pedagogical resources for children aged 7-17 in Brazil and Columbia. These materials, to be designed in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, will integrate activities on conflict resolution into modules on ancient languages and literature. They will not only be shared with local educators by the Principal Investigator (Dr. Martin Dinter, King's College London) at three study days in 2020, planned for Bogotá, São Paulo, and Juiz de Fora, but also uploaded online onto the project website so that educators across the world may freely integrate them into school curricula. As part of the project, researchers will also be invited to help develop new outreach programmes and campaigns in these cities, about which more information will be provided in due course.