Conflict of Identity Narratives and Inclusive Language of Global Ethics
Conflict of Identity Narratives and Inclusive Language of Global Ethics

Summary/Abstract: The present tensions in the Russian-Ukrainian relations highlight the relevance of narrative identity of the parties involved in political conflicts. In this paper I argue that by paying greater attention to this peculiar element of the motivational structure of political action, one can gain important insights into the dynamics of identity-based conflicts that may be of major significance for the theory and practice of conflict resolution. Keeping in mind the legitimate worries of the Postmodern and liberal individualist social theorists who are uneasy about granting importance to such &lsquo;communitarian&rsquo; and partly non-rational layer of citizens&rsquo; identity, I suggest that recognition of the powerful motivational force of group or national identity narratives &ndash; like the Russian imperial/Orthodox narrative about <em>russkiy mir </em>&ndash; can constitute the first and necessary step towards such <em>transformation</em> <em>of identity narratives</em> that will not only facilitate identity-based conflict resolution, but also provide (narrative) tools for promotion and protection of individual (Kantian) autonomy, as well as individual and group freedom from Foucauldian &lsquo;epistemic violence&rsquo; of &lsquo;grand narratives&rsquo;. Since identity narratives are always particularist and embedded in the local cultures, recognition of their importance in the context of political action points to the need for construction of transcultural rather than universalist/acultural language of global ethics.

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