Lisa Stroembom's book deals with the vexed topic of how Israelis remember their history. Memory, she reminds us, is a source of intractable conflicts. Reremembering, and seeking recognition for one's invented recollections, is a means of transforming conflicts and of opening new avenues to co-existence and peace. Stroembom thinks hard, writes well, and provides a fresh take on the most troubling conflict of our era.
Erik Ringamr, Zhi Yuan Chair professor of International Relations, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
Lisa Stroembom has produced a very thorough and insightful analysis of the role of history in processes of conflict transformation. She combines the development of a solid theoretical framework for assessing the formation of collective identities with an impressive account of how the 1948 war is remembered in Israel today. Her ground-breaking concept of thick-recognition provides an important lens through which to analyse if and how parties to a conflict move from enmity to mutual acceptance. The study is a must read for anyone who is interested in conflict transformation and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Susanne Buckley-Zistel, Professor in Peace and Conflict Research, Philipps Universitat Marburg, Germany