Pati-Agent: Rethinking the Suffered Being in Apocalypses
摘要
This chapter proposes the concept of “pati-agent” as a new actor model suitable for the apocalyptic era, emphasizing the patients’ endurance of suffering and their transformative potential. The research begins by examining recent trends in peace and conflict studies, specifically the increased focus on local dynamics and the critique of anthropocentrism. Building on Hong-Jung Kim’s sociological work, patiency is introduced to counteract the prevalent “agential bias” in social theory. The pati-agent, a being that endures suffering, can mobilize peacebuilding efforts through remembrance, testimony, and connection. This model reinterprets the suffering experienced in apocalyptic contexts as a source of transformative agency, challenging the conventional understanding of human agency and expanding the scope of peacebuilding to include the voices and experiences of those traditionally marginalized.