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3 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN 1.5 Million Donated Vol. VI, No. 4 4 MIDDLE EAST ■ UN I T E D STAT E S IN S T I T U T E O F PE A C E WA S H I N G T O N , DC Legal Dialogue

5 NATO and the Media

6 BALKANS Truth and A Force More Powe r f u l Reconciliation

A new documentary film tells the story of ‘people power’ in the 20th century. 7 SOUTH AFRICA Truth Commission

he story of how ordi- film provides a different view,” nary men and York says. “We really have broken women used nonviolent new ground.” Combining extraor- action to defeat tyranny dinary archival footage and recent in the 20th century has interviews with participants, the finally been told in a film is a heartening, passionate powerful, feature-length tribute to human courage and documentary film. “A Force More determination. Powerful,” directed by award- “The documentary—and the winning filmmaker Steve York, accompanying educational materi- analyzes three case studies of how als and book—will likely serve as political activists used nonviolent an inspiring ‘how-to-do-it’ manu- resistance as a strategic tool in al for people around the world their struggles against oppressors. struggling for human rights and The U.S. Institute of Peace freedom against oppressive provided a grant to fund prelimi- regimes,” notes Institute president nary research for the documentary. Richard H. Solomon. He spoke Narrated by actor Ben Kings- at the film’s premiere at the Inter- ley, the film focuses on three non- national Trade Center, Ronald violent political campaigns, the Reagan Building, in Washington, first led by Gandhi against the D.C., in December 1999. Co- British in India in the early 1900s; hosts of the screening included the second led by the Rev. James the Institute of Peace, Albert Ein- Lawson to desegregate lunch stein Institution, Amnesty Inter- counters in Nashville, Tenn., in national, Human Rights Watch, 1959; and the third led by and WETA-TV in Washington, PBS will broadcast “A Force More Powerful” nationwide Mkhuseli Jack against white D.C. on two consecutive Mondays, September 18 (Part I) and South African businesses in the In September, PBS will broad- September 25 ( Part II) at 9 p.m. Eastern Cape region in 1985–86. cast the television version of “A Although the stories may be Force More Powerful” in two 90- familiar to some audiences, “this See Film, page 2 2 F i l m Continued from page 1

minute segments. The first seg- ment will be a shortened version Left to right: of the film, while the second will Left to right: focus on three additional case Steve York, studies: the Danish resistance to Richard Nazi occupation, the Polish Soli- Solomon, Peter darity movement, and the Chilean Ackerman, and opposition to Augusto Pinochet. Bernard The film was produced by LaFayette at the York and Peter Ackerman, in New York pre- partnership with WETA, and was miere of the inspired by a book co-authored by film in Novem- Ackerman, Strategic Nonviolent ber 1999 Conflict: The Dynamics of People Power in the Twentieth Century (1994). The book outlines a series series, entitled A Force More Pow- tative John Lewis (D-Ga.??), who of principles that determine why erful: A Century of Non-Violent was a college student at the time of nonviolent movements succeed or Conflict, which will be published the Nashville sit-ins. Still, most of fail and provides six comprehen- by St. Martin’s Press in the fall. the participants were not then, and sive case studies. Ackerman and are not now, public figures. Jack DuVall, executive producer The Film “They’re thoughtful people of the film, have written another who stepped forward when they book on the subject, a companion “Bringing these stories to the believed they had ideas that could volume to the PBS documentary screen has been more rewarding make a difference,” York says. than anything I’ve ever done,” “Spending time with people like York says. Before deciding to them is much better than talking Peace Watch (ISSN 1080- make the film, he first had to to people who are powerful in any 9864) is determine how much archival conventional sense. When I’m in published six times a year by footage was available. While he the presence of James Lawson, the United States knew there was a lot on Gandhi, Diane Nash, John Lewis, and Institute of Peace, an independent, nonpar- tisan federal institution created by Congress he wasn’t sure about other cases of Mkhuseli Jack, I’m reminded that to promote research, education, and train- ing on the peaceful resolution of interna- nonviolent resistance. Eventually, ideas matter, that human intelli- tional conflicts. The views expressed herein he and his researchers pulled gence and ingenuity can prevail.” do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute or its board of directors. together material from some 50 In the film, Archbishop To receive Peace Watch, write to the Editor, Peace Watch, United States Institute archives. The biggest surprise Desmond Tutu says, “We must of Peace, 1200 17th Street NW, Suite 200, came when they uncovered exten- remember we have been given a Washington, DC 20036-3011. For general information call 202-457-1700, fax 202- sive archival footage of the wonderful cause, the cause of 429-6063, e-mail: [email protected], or check our web site: www.usip.org. Nashville sit-ins. “It was stunning freedom. . . . When people decide to find it,” he says. “Everyone they want to be free, once they President: Richard H. Solomon Executive Vice President: Harriet Hentges thought they knew that story. have made up their minds to that, Publications Director: Dan Snodderly Editor: Cynthia Roderick When a WETA executive saw there is nothing that will stop Production Manager: Marie Marr the first edit, he said it was as if them.” Photo Credits: Staff, AP/Wide World Photos Board of Directors he was learning about it for the The PBS series will be distrib- Chairman: Chester A. Crocker. first time.” uted to schools and libraries and Vice Chairman: Max M. Kampelman. Members: Dennis L. Bark, Stephen J. The film shows Lawson teach- will be available for home use. Hadley, Theodore M. Hesburgh, Zalmay ing students how to engage in Khalilzad, Seymour Martin Lipset, W. Scott Thompson, Allen Weinstein, Harriet Zim- nonviolent protest, and anti- Nonviolent Action as Strategy merman. Apartheid activist Jack persuading Members Ex Officio: J. Stapleton Roy, Department of State; Daniel H. Simpson, angry youth to forgo violence. “The purpose of this movie is to National Defense University; Walter B. Slo- York interviews some of the par- show that the underdog has a combe, Department of Defense; Richard H. Solomon, Institute president (nonvoting). ticipants, including U.S. Represen- viable strategy that is nonviolent, 3 $1.5 Million Donated to including strikes, boycotts, and Building Campaign other forms of non-cooperation capable of putting enormous A private family foundation is helping the pressure on the invader, the Institute advance its architectural planning for a authoritarian, and the tyrant,” says Ackerman. “We hope after permanent headquarters near the National Mall. seeing this film, that people around the world will come to understand that there exists ‘a force more powerful’ [than vio- lence] to rectify injustice and reduce the horrors of war.” The film and books seek to develop a more precise under- standing of how nonviolent polit- ical conflict actually works. Non- violent action has often been viewed as an expression of good- ness or heroism—something not easily subject to explanation or development, Ackerman explains. But this approach doesn’t make a lot of sense, given the number of countries that have become private family foundation has made a contribution of $1.5 million democratic in the last 30 years Ato the U.S. Institute of Peace’s Capital Campaign to build a perma- through nonviolent resistance— nent headquarters. The Institute’s new home will be located at the Poland in 1981, the Philippines northwest corner of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in 1986, Chile in 1988, and “We are truly grateful for this generous and far-sighted gift,” says Czechoslovakia in 1989. “We Institute president Richard H. Solomon. "The donation represents a have looked at nonviolent action strong vote of confidence in our building project." The foundation as purposeful, strategic behavior,” wishes to remain anonymous. Ackerman says. In its new headquarters facility, the Institute will create a research While Gandhi had a long- and training center in support of the nation’s commitment to the non- held spiritual commitment to violent management of international conflict. The center will be con- nonviolence, that commitment structed on a three-acre site at 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue also developed a strategic dimen- NW, within view of the nation’s most important war memorials. sion, Ackerman notes. “Most The donation will be used to advance the architectural design phase cases of nonviolent struggle have of the building project. A planning assessment of the Institute”s future been undertaken by people who space needs and program plans for the new facility is currently under- had no viable military options to way. This preliminary evaluation is examining the size of the building defend their freedom and their that can be constructed as well as such issues as traffic patterns and lives,” he stresses. Viewing and parking arrangements. analyzing nonviolent actions as part of a political strategy can help activists improve their effi- ciency and effectiveness. “There is a long tradition of discourse on the conduct of war,” Ackerman concludes. “It seems reasonable and even imperative to apply the same logic and methods to non- violent resistance.”