Colette Daiute Knihy

This book offers a groundbreaking perspective on research and practice concerning young individuals affected by political violence. It explores the unique challenges they face and provides insights into their experiences, aiming to inform better support strategies and interventions. Through a blend of theoretical frameworks and practical applications, it addresses the complexities of youth development in tumultuous environments, making it a vital resource for practitioners and researchers alike.

Focusing on the concept of "dynamic narrating," Colette Daiute introduces a comprehensive approach to narrative inquiry that emphasizes storytelling as a means of connection and understanding within social contexts. The book offers practical techniques for both novices and seasoned researchers, enriched with diverse examples, activities, and analytical tools. By integrating cultural-historical activity and discourse theories, it provides a framework for applying narrative research across various cultural settings, making it a valuable resource for conducting narrative studies.

Focusing on narrative inquiry, this book provides researchers and students with tools to explore the complexities of human development within social contexts. It features a diverse array of chapters that present interdisciplinary perspectives, emphasizing how identity and knowledge evolve in dynamic environments. The work highlights the various rationales, practices, and values associated with narrative analysis, making it a comprehensive resource for understanding individual development in society.

This special issue of 'Human Development' presents theories, methods, and findings coming from innovative research on interventions. It emphasizes collective strategies for child and youth reflection and development during and after violent conflicts, displacement, and major cultural change. The articles focus on practice-based research. The case studies describe interventions in civic engagement, community reconciliation, spontaneous education practices, and storytelling in community organizations in Africa, Latin America, the Western Balkans, and the United States. The unique approaches and explanations throughout these articles complement the typical focus on trauma. The authors consider how children and youth make sense of the extreme challenges in their changing environments. Overall, this publication provides researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and funders with valuable insight into the cognitive, social, and emotional capacities of children and youth.