Children and Armed Conflict: Exploring the Approaches of Study

Abstract

Abstract: Children are mostly considered to be vulnerable and passive victims in situations of armed conflict. The field of study of children and armed conflict has hitherto been dominated by the psycho- medical approach. Interventions in the field are also highly influenced by psychiatric and psychological research and therapeutic work. However, this approach has been critiqued for omitting the societal, environmental and relational dimensions of a child’s life that play an influential role during such adversities. One argues in favour of newer approaches like the social constructivist and everyday life sociology to study this phenomenon. These approaches look at children as social actors and active agents in their own rights during situation of armed conflict. Children’s agency and their response to adversities cannot be ignored. In order to get a holistic understanding of children in situations of armed conflict, one needs to look beyond the hitherto established frameworks and explore the everyday lives of children.