Resilience, Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and Transitional Justice: An Interdisciplinary Framing

This interdisciplinary article draws on two neurological processes and repurposes them to develop a novel theorization of resilience. It argues that major shocks and stressors within societies can have significant 'demyelinating' effects, by weakening or damaging communication channels within social-ecological systems (SES). It illustrates this through a focus on conflict-related sexual violence. It further proposes that resilience can be likened to a 'remyelinating' process aimed at enhancing how SES support and communicate with each other. Further extending the analogy, it maintains that transitional justice processes have a part to play in 'remyelinating' communication in societies affected by conflict and violence.