ABSTRACT
Exploring the supposed character of resilience presented in Chapter 1, supported here with more practical and empirical specificity, this chapter presents the main sources of support, strength and coping mechanisms harnessed by survivors as they have traversed the impacts of political violence and terrorism that were highlighted in Chapter 3. This includes a heterogenous mix of individual character and outlook, economic factors such as victim compensation, communal support systems such as religion and solidarity with fellow survivors, and practice-oriented support strategies including therapy and counselling, peace and reconciliation activities, and indeed engagement with the Foundation for Peace charity where the bulk of this data was collected. This chapter makes good a significant gap in existing literature by contributing its findings against a surprising dearth of empirical studies focused on practices of resilience among survivors of political violence and terrorism.
