Narrative and Violence in Just Institutions: Reading National Identity Stories with Ricœur

Beginning with images of rampant destruction and violence in our day, Paul Ricœur’s reflections on the political paradox and his “little ethics” (contained in Oneself as Another) are responses to peace and understanding. Ricœur is concerned with questions not only of narrative and embodiment, but also of violence. In situating his theory of personal identity as well as narrative in a country’s identity, is there a role for overcoming violence in understanding oneself through one’s nationality? How might the question of personal and national identity help us understand ethics and politics as mirroring one another, even in cases of religious peace-building?