Following a brief presentation of the main narrative patters emerged from the analysis:

“Personal within the boundaries of the Dominant” narrative pattern

The vast majority of all participants’ narratives, however different in some respects, did not go beyond or against the dominant narratives of the communities or groups in which they identified as belonging. Identity (national, community, ideological) is built on the logic of historical mythology and is so powerful that it prohibits deviation or contradiction to the dominant narrative of the group.

“Trauma & Victimhood” narrative pattern

The constant presence of the consequences of trauma, or its constant reminder to members of society, deprives them of the ability to treat the past as the past; therefore, the past is something they cannot overcome. The failure of the next generation to deal with the past causes the vicious cycle of trauma to continue. The most violent and recent conflicts under study, were not conflicts in which the parties claim the position of “winner”, but conflicts in which each side seeks to prove that it was the victim of the other side in order to achieve political, economic, or social goals. “Victimhood” and “blame game” are probably the most difficult obstacles to achieve reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

“Left-Right Ideological Disputes” narrative pattern

The existence of two distinct and opposing ideological fields of confrontation emerges as a common pattern. Although ideological clashes can lead to serious confrontations and conflicts, as historically proven, at least theoretically they offer better conditions for future rapprochement. Since they are not divisive at the deeper level of national identity, they seem to be a factor that can be more easily mitigated over time. On the other hand, it is also a factor that is highly dependent on the current social and geopolitical conjuncture.

“Distrust on Media” narrative pattern

The vast majority of the respondents’ view the role of the media negatively, both during the conflict and in the aftermath. There is a significant age difference in media use preference. Only a few of survey respondents indicated that they are “heavy users” of Social Media, with daily presence and content production. A significant number of respondents expressed concern about the role of Social Media in public life and its influence on shaping public opinion. Nevertheless, the role of Social Media was not considered critical or decisive in any case study.

“Avoidance Strategy” narrative pattern

Whatever the type and form of the troubled past, it is better not to talk about it in the present. Based on the reports of the majority of respondents in most countries under investigation (mainly Ireland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Bosnia, and Cyprus), dialogue, debate, and any kind of reference to the troubled past are avoided diligently. The reluctance to discuss the troubled past is manifested on many different levels. There is the almost unanimous opinion of all respondents that daily contact with members of the other community is a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence in the future (a contact that in most cases already existed in the past before the conflict). In the vast majority of cases, younger people with transmitted experiences of conflict appear to be more receptive to the prospect of closer contact with members of the opposing community. Nevertheless, this seems to be truer in theory than in practice

“Caretakers of Normality” narrative pattern

Regarding the role of women in the respective conflicts in almost all of the case studies, women with personal experience reported that they had a rather marginal or secondary role in the conflict. Women are not reported to have an active role in critical decision-making processes or to be actively involved in violent incidents in the conflict. Despite the events of the conflict, the daily needs of those left behind remained real and pressing in adverse circumstances: children to survive, elderly to care for, family ties and households to maintain. These general tasks were the main responsibility of women. Both men and women fought, each in a different way and in a different area. In this dipole, however, it seems that the men fought for the present while the women fought for the future. of the total number of respondents in the survey, no respondents indicated that they had been victims of sexual abuse during the conflict. All reports conveyed information about other individuals. The issue emerged strongly in the cases of Cyprus and Kosovo.

“Prevalence of National over European Identity” narrative pattern

The idea of a common European identity seems to be a goal that is difficult to achieve. The EU is perceived mainly as an “economic” institution, dealing mostly with economic and financial issues (monetary issues, trade issues, etc.) – a perception that may act as a divisive rather than a unifying factor between the member states of the Union. The economic crisis of 2009-2019 has only deepened the divisions and made them more visible. “Solidarity” was a widespread expectation, but in many ways, it does not seem to have been fulfilled. On the contrary, the EU’s attitude towards its internal divisions generates resentment and frustration. The majority of respondents see the EU as something far removed from their everyday lives and pressing national problems, as a bureaucratic institution with vague powers and unclear responsibilities, as a mechanism that is slow and cumbersome and lacks proactive initiatives. In the few cases where the EU does act, it does so for financial reasons and in a punitive rather than solidarity mindset.