Seeking ontological security through thick narratives: Syrian civil war, ontological insecurity, and narratives

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Sharani, Samer and Çelik, Ayşe Betül (2024) Seeking ontological security through thick narratives: Syrian civil war, ontological insecurity, and narratives. Cooperation and Conflict . ISSN 0010-8367 (Print) 1460-3691 (Online) Published Online First http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00108367241269639

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Abstract

Civil war can change the narratives of a collective Self and damage some of its ontological security conditions, such as continuity, self-esteem, and consistency. Using a qualitative analysis of the Facebook pages visited widely by the residents of Salamieh City in Syria (a stronghold for Ismailis), this study shows how narratives of a collective Self (both local Salamieh and national Syrian Selves) have been generated to cope with threats to ontological security imposed by the ongoing civil war. Following our finding that the pro-regime and neutral pages could have used thin narratives of ontological security but instead sticked to thick narratives, we argue that thick narrative opens up possibilities to understand complex reality and generate a rich meaning-system and strong agency. Contrary to the claim that a simple Self is more ontologically secure because its narrative is easily kept continuous and routinized, this study shows that confronting reality and tolerating change through thick narratives despite the anxiety and pain the process generates, can provide ontological security in the future.
Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: civil war; ontological security; Syria; thick narrative; thin narrative
Subjects: J Political Science > JC Political theory
Divisions: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences > Academic programs > Political Science
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Depositing User: Ayşe Betül Çelik
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2024 15:18
Last Modified: 24 Sep 2024 15:18
URI: https://research.sabanciuniv.edu/id/eprint/50197

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