The narrative of experiences of violence as well as the interpretation of those narratives take on a central role not only in the scientific but also in the social view on abuse of power and violence in social relations of proximity, dependency and vulnerability.

Yet there is a very intimate side to the telling of violent experiences. It is by no means self-evident that survivors talk about violence and experienced abuse of power.

A basic condition for this also seems to be that a person can trust that he or she will be listened to and believed. Only in this way can narratives also set the process of acknowledgement, investigation and redress in motion. The concept of witnessing becomes (especially) important in this context.

Also, there is the question of narratives from different perspectives. In addition to the perspective of those affected, it must also be clarified how the perspective of the perpetrators and the so-called „third parties,“ the bystanders, can be given validity.

The two workshops on narratives and narrativity follow on from these complex phenomena. The starting point for both workshops is the question of potential and limits of narrative for acknowledgement, investigation and redress of violence, violent relations, and the abuse of power.

All workshops were supported by funding from the potential field “Power and abuse. Theory, theological reflection and criticism of its manifestations in the past and present” (2020-2022).