Using the 5th Provence to hold seemingly impossible conversations

The metaphor of the “fifth province” is seen as a space, where all the opposite contradictions of the social system may ambivalently exist, side by side allowing all stories to be heard. 

I have been reflecting on the work of the Family Trauma Centre Belfast, how working in the midst of extreme conflict, we managed to work with families involved with and affected by all sides of the conflict. Yet in the systemic field we find it so difficult to talk about many of today’s conflicts. In particular I have been struck by the difficulty in talking about the war in Gaza for example. In the Centre we had many difficult conversations. It was not for us to hold political opinions or judgements. We had to find a way to make space for all sides involved in the conflict. The work of our colleges in the Fifth Provence Associates was inspiring. 

In this workshop I will be supported by members of the AFT Palestine google group. We would like to invite you to enter into the 5th Provence. We would like to create a space for all to feel free to dialogue about Palestine, in particular the difficulties we have experienced in trying to talk with colleagues. 

Too often we have experienced silence as a response. The 5th Provence is not a political or geographical space. It is an open space for all sides to talk, to have talks about talks. In this workshop we would invite all participants to be respectful of those who hold different views to theirs, to join in the discussion or just listen and engage in a way that feels comfortable.