Language and Conflict De-escalation: Preserving peace in Ambon through literature and art

This study examines how Ambonese artists and writers employ language in their works and cognitive processes to address the Ambon conflict and its aftermath. Language, as a social practice, possesses the potential to serve as a tool for conflict de-escalation. The Ambon conflict in Maluku, Indonesia (1999–2002) was triggered by the social impact of language, specifically political provocations that divided the community. During this period, Ambonese youth countered these provocations with alternative language forms, utilising peaceful discourse to mitigate conflict. Using different language, two decades later, in the post Covid-19 era of 2022–24, young Ambonese aged 18 to 30 have once again drawn on language to develop novel approaches to preserve peace. They employ language as a tool for maintaining harmony through literary and artistic creations, as well as in their daily interactions within the Ambonese creative community, which serves as a platform for cultivating peaceful perspectives in Ambon. This study explores the types of language production used for conflict de-escalation, emphasising the current generation’s vulnerability to conflict provocations through language, particularly via social media. We examine the use of language in de-escalating conflict and preserving peace through the creation of artistic communities and mobilisation of tradition and mythic pasts. The theoretical framework employs the social effects of language as part of critical discourse analysis, focusing on the cognitive aspects of language use.