Shared Peace Heritage Archive Project

The stories and sayings that make up the oral tradition of any culture can provide insight into the foundational beliefs of a culture or ethnic group about conflict and peace. In effect, they can act as a window into a particular group's shared concepts about dealing with conflict.

The examination of these stories can aid in illustrating the similarities and differences in various cultural approaches to peace and conflict.

The materials making up an oral tradition have advantages over the study of state documents or philosophical texts. They have been developed over time and are often more direct and simple. Additionally, it is easier to transfer the knowledge of a culture to others through short narratives rather than long academic tracts.

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