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Envisioning an Anarcho-‐Pacifist Peace

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Envisioning an Anarcho-Pacifist Peace: A case for the convergence of anarchism and pacifism and an exploration of the Gandhian movement for a stateless society A thesis submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy Joseph Llewellyn The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (NCPACS) University of Otago i Abstract The primary aim of peace and conflict studies is to build a world that is free from the suffering that results from violence in all of its forms. No political theories pursue this more than pacifism and anarchism: pacifism through its rejection of physical violence as a tool of politics and anarchism through its staunch opposition to the structural and direct violence that results from violent forms of authority. This thesis is an attempt to explore the rejection of violence and the building of a nonviolent world through the lens of anarcho-pacifism, which is the amalgamation of both anarchism and pacifism. The purpose of this is to answer the question of how we can create nonviolent societies that enable human flourishing. This is done in two stages. In the first part of this thesis, an argument is made for the joining of anarchism and pacifism. Put simply, this argument is that because pacifists oppose violence as a method of politics, they should therefore reject the state, as the state is rooted in violence. This means that pacifists should adopt anarchism as an ideology and a practice. On the other side, anarchism can be defined through its opposition to domination and violent authority, and on this basis it rejects the state, capitalism, patriarchy and racism, along with any other past, present or future forms of privileging and violent hierarchical structures. The argument is made that if anarchism opposes domination, it should reject physical violence and killing, the ultimate form of domination, as a tool of politics and social transformation. In this way, both pacifism and anarchism come together in synergistic ways. Therefore, anarcho-pacifism is presented as a unique and revolutionary theory that fully rejects all forms of violence as a means and an end in its pursuit of a peaceful world. As a result, there is a theoretical case made that anarcho-pacifism offers great potential to build a nonviolent world. The second part of this thesis is a preliminary exploration into how anarcho- pacifism can be practiced in the real world. This is explored through the Gandhian movement, both in Gandhi’s lifetime but also in the sarvodaya movement. The sarvodaya movement is the movement focused on achieving ii Gandhian ideals, during Gandhi’s lifetime and after his assassination. It was chosen for exploration as it was deemed to be the largest, most sustained, and most successful example of anarcho-pacifism in practice. Multiple academic contributions are made here. The first is that Gandhi’s anarchistic theory is explored, as well as his similarities and differences with anarchism, which has its roots in Europe. Second, the sarvodaya plan for a nonviolent anarchistic society is outlined using the writings of Gandhi and his principal successor, Vinoba Bhave. Third, the views and reflections of contemporary followers of Gandhi are shared, via in-depth interviews that were conducted in India and the United States. This research is therefore also an attempt to desubjugate Gandhi’s anti- state theory and practice, and highlight the thought and achievement of his successors – Vinoba Bhave and Jayaprakash Narayan – who are rarely acknowledged in nonviolence, anarchist and peace and conflict studies literature. In the final part of the thesis, some conclusions are offered about the Gandhian experience and what it can offer to similar movements in the future. Finally I discuss some challenges that anarcho-pacifism presents to peace and conflict studies. Keywords: Anarchism, Pacifism, Anarcho-Pacifism, Gandhi, Sarvodaya, Nonviolence iii Acknowledgements As I think everybody who has ever written a PhD thesis can testify, the PhD journey would be impossible without the support and input of a long list of people. I would like to acknowledge them in the next two pages, although I do not feel that my words can fully express my gratitude. I owe a great deal of thanks to my primary supervisor, Professor Richard Jackson. He has guided me through this project over the last few years by offering encouragement, reading many drafts, and helping me improve the work I have done via his feedback. Not only that, but if it was not for his teaching and the many conversations we had in the two years preceding this PhD project, I probably would not have started it at all. He has also offered his full support to various academic and activist projects that I have pursued throughout my time at the National Centre for Peace and Conflicts Studies (NCPACS). For all of this, I am extremely grateful. I am also very thankful to my other supervisors: Dr. Charles Butcher, Dr. Marcelle Dawson and Dr. SungYong Lee. Charles gave me important feedback in the early stage of this project. Also, if it were not for the time, feedback and encouragement he offered as the supervisor for my Post-graduate Diploma and MA theses in the years preceding this PhD, I would not have built the foundations to do this work. Marcelle and SungYong have both given me very valuable supervision in the later half of this project. They have provided extremely helpful comments that assisted me in honing and clarifying many aspects of this work and provided helpful feedback on my teaching as well. Throughout my post-graduate study I have been very lucky to be at NCPACS. Two NCPACS members who I must mention here by name are Griffin and Jonathan, whom I have spent most of my daylight hours over the last three years sitting next to in our office. Thank you both for providing relief when it was needed, chatting about work, providing feedback, collaborating on multiple projects and papers, listening to me complain, for offering reflections, and over iv all for just being great friends. I am very thankful to many members of the NCPACS community who have come and gone during my time here who have made NCPACS such as great place to be. There are many others who have been integral to the development of my work and I am unfortunately unable to mention all of them here by name. Of course, without the time, generosity and hospitality of the tremendously inspiring activists, anarchists, pacifists and Gandhians, in Aotearoa New Zealand, the USA and India, this thesis would not have been possible. I am very grateful to all of them and I hope that in time we will create the nonviolent world that we seek. I am thankful for the words of advice of my teachers and guides, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Lhagon Rinpoche, whose guidance has kept me on track and which I aspire to completely live up to. I also need to thank the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre, who gave me a room to live in throughout most of this process, and which felt like a supportive nest to retreat to. The Dhargyey Buddhist Centre has also always offered support for the various peace projects I have kicked off or been involved in during my time studying at NCPACS. Last but certainly not least, I want to thank all of my family and my wonderful partner, Nicole. Without years of support, sacrifices, presence and encouragement throughout life’s many ups and downs from my Mum and Han, I would not have reached this point. Nicole, who I met within three weeks of starting this project, has been my rock throughout. I am extremely grateful to have her in my life. It is through the kindness of all of these people that I was able to reach this stage and enjoy the journey along the way. To quote the late Geshe Jampa Tegchok: "if we think about the great kindness of all beings it will be evident that all our happiness does indeed depend upon them." v Contents ABSTRACT II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS IV CONTENTS VI FIGURES IX INTRODUCTION 1 The Issue: Global Violence and Anarcho-Pacifism as a Revolutionary Solution 4 Exploring Anarcho-Pacifist Possibilities: The Contents and Scope of the Thesis 7 Theoretical Contribution and Finding my Audience 13 My Positioning 17 Outline of Chapters 19 PART ONE: ANARCHO-PACIFIST THEORY 21 CHAPTER ONE: AN ANARCHO-PACIFIST CONCEPTUALISATION OF VIOLENCE AND PEACE 22 Conceptualising Violence 23 Authority, Coercion and Power 35 Defining an Anarcho-Pacifist Peace 40 Conclusion 49 CHAPTER TWO: FROM PACIFISM TO ANARCHISM AND THE VIOLENCE OF THE CAPITALIST-STATE 50 Conceptualising the State 53 The Direct Violence of the Capitalist-State 58 Structural and Non-Lethal State Violence 64 The Role of Capitalism in State Violence 67 The Role of Racism and Sexism in State Violence 77 Can there be a “Good State”? 81 Conclusion 85 vi CHAPTER THREE: FROM ANARCHISM TO PACIFISM AND THE REJECTION OF REVOLUTIONARY VIOLENCE 87 An Act of Violence is an Act of Domination 89 Excuses for Revolutionary Violence and Reasons to Dismiss Them 98 Excuse One: Violence as Necessary 99 Excuse Two: Violence as Inspiring and Virtuous 106 The Root Assumption: The Means of Violence Can Reach the Desired End of Revolution 114 Conceptualising an Anarcho-pacifist Nonviolence 119 Conclusion 120 PART TWO: ANARCHO-PACIFIST VISION AND PRACTICE: AN EXPLORATION OF THE SARVODAYA MOVEMENT 122 CHAPTER FOUR: EXPLORING ANARCHO-PACIFIST THEORY THROUGH GANDHI 123 Approaches to the Study of Anarchism 124 Anarchist Methodology: Conducting Anarchist Research via Interviews 129 Specifics of Inclusion: Exploring Gandhian rather than Euro-Centric Visions
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