sign in sign up
<<
Home , Aung San Suu Kyi, Pietermaritzburg

PACS 164B: Today at the University of , Berkeley

Mubarak Awad Nonviolence International Vaclav Havel Cory Acquino Czech Republic Philippines People Power

Nonviolent Peaceforce International Fellowship of Reconciliation

Aung San Suu Kyi Burmese Resistance Christian Peacemaker Lech Walesa Teams Poland Solidarity White Paper abridged version Contents Overview of Nonviolence...... 2 What is nonviolence?...... 3 How does nonviolence work?...... 3 Why is nonviolence so important?...... 4 A Brief History of Nonviolence...... 5 About Nonviolence Education at Berkeley...... 8 What distinguishes the study of nonviolence from other fields?...... 8 Why is nonviolence such an integral part of the PACS dept?...... 9 Why has nonviolence education so deeply impacted the lives of some people?...... 10 PACS 164B: Nonviolence Today Overview...... 12 Nonviolent Insurrectionary Movements...... 12 When nonviolence “succeeds” and when it “fail” (but it always works)...... 13 , peacemaking, and peacebuilding...... 13 Third-Party Nonviolent Intervention (TPNI)...... 14 Nonviolent Communication...... 14 Restorative Justice...... 14 Truth and Reconciliation Commissions...... 15 Antiwar Activism and Organizations...... 15 . Overview of Nonviolence

What is Nonviolence? Part of the challenge in The power nonviolence generates understanding nonviolence is benefits everyone because it helps that the word “nonviolence” does not accurately convey resolve conflict permanently. the proactive force it repre- sents. As translated into the English, nonvi- point. Nonviolence is not a tactic to gain olence evokes an unconstructive, inactive politically, it is an unflinching life based on state that is against something as opposed the principle of truth and love in thought, to for something. In fact, nonviolence is a word, and deed. positive force, a presence of mind human Early on in , when beings can achieve that generates power was thrown off the train at from within us to use compassion and for refusing to leave his first class seat empathy as catalysts for social change. because he was Indian, he resolved to treat Further, the power nonviolence generates the insult as an insult to humanity in its benefits everyone because it helps resolve entirety. conflict permanently. Conversion of a Negative Drive In Sanskrit, the word for nonviolence is “,” which means “the complete lack of even the intention to harm.” When a human being is bathed in this condition, he becomes love itself and it is this intense love and understanding that allows a person like Gandhi to reach the hearts of millions of people and shift their consciousness. Nonviolence is a compelling and pulsating fountain of energy available to all human beings; few, however, become aware of its might. Gandhi coined the word after having experienced this power firsthand. He defined satyagraha this way: “Truth (satya) implies love, and Firmness (agraha) engen- ders and therefore serves as a synonym for When Gandhi was thrown off the train in force… the force which is born of truth and South Africa, instead of directing anger love or nonviolence…” Hence nonviolence is towards his oppressor, he transmuted a positive force for social change which is this anger into a personal drive to derived from an “indomitable will” and is end the system of oppression. Today, a willing to take on suffering and even death statue stands in Pietermaritzburg in its relentless pursuit of truth. Those who honoring the long-term respect his view nonviolence as a strategy miss the commitment earned.

2 Overview of Nonviolence (2/6) raging, one must stand firm and hold fast to the princi- This decision directed his movement ple of ahimsa. How then does one develop against oppression, but not the oppressor, this capacity; how does one cultivate the against the sin, but not the sinner. In other courage to die without killing? words, he saw oppression as an insult to all of humanity, including the perpetrator of Nonviolence is the energy released through the oppression. To rid the world of this one’s own disciplined transformation of oppression then, he would negative states of consciousness. not employ the conventional tactics of threat power or economic power. He sought to persuade The principles of nonviolence only rather than to coerce his opponent. By using achieve their full potential through personal integrative power, a power based on princi- application. Nonviolence is first and fore- ple, Gandhi sought to create a dynamic that most an individual affair which begins by would eventually move him and the oppo- looking into one’s own heart. It is there that nent psychologically closer in space. one can learn to “rise above the opposing Nonviolence is the energy released currents of love and hatred, attachment and through one’s own disciplined transforma- repulsion.” Through developing our inward tion of negative states of consciousness. It capacity to love, we learn to neutralize our is this energy that binds human kind and fear and our anger and convert that energy carries with it a message of the potential into an overwhelming force for change. latent within every human being. Nonviolence works by purifying conscious- Nonviolence is the law underlying our ness and learning to see the meanest char- species; it is the source of personal transfor- acter as oneself, and helping that person mation. Nonviolence provides meaning and realize that suffering anywhere translates purpose to our lives and it moves the world into suffering everywhere. toward unity and peace. Conflict has the tendency to cloud our reasoning facul- King’s Views on Justice How does Nonviolence work? ty. When conflict A prerequisite to nonviolence is courage. arises, human Nonviolence requires human beings with a beings often for- bone in their back which you cannot wave get that essen- your hand through. There is a common mis- tially we are the conception that nonviolence is meek and a same, and that weapon of the weak. This unfortunate diag- fundamentally nosis is a symptom of the lack of familiarity we all have the with nonviolence. Gandhi will in fact go as same needs. far as to say, “There is hope for a violent When this for- man to some day be nonviolent, but there is getfulness hap- According to Dr. MLK Jr., none for a coward.” Gandhi’s courage was pens we also “Injustice anywhere is a unshakable, and he felt that even in the tend to forget threat to justice every- midst of the severest fire, when violence is that those with where.”

3 Overview of Nonviolence (3/6) whom we are in conflict are human beings “Success” vs. Work just like us. This is called dehumanization. The nonviolent activist seeks to rehumanize his opponent by representing the ultimate truth and willingly taking on suffering. Holding up a mirror to the opponent’s ruth- less oppression awakens the humanity in him and “compels reason to be free.” The power used in this interaction is not coer- cive, but persuasive, and it is based on a dialogue and a conversation which ultimate- ly seeks to bring both parties closer to truth and to each other. Since fear and greed are not employed to manipulate the opponent, the opponent’s position changes of his own accord and from his own conviction. This elevates humanity to a higher moral plane and brings about lasting peace. While Gandhi’s movement to achieve Unlike violence – which may occasionally Indian political independence from bring about a temporary “successful” solu- British colonial rule was “successful,” it tion but always carries with it the seeds for also worked to generate long-term the next violent episode – nonviolence can positive ripple effects in the conscious- both succeed at resolving short-term issues ness of humanity - such as inspiring and work to effect long-term systemic Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil changes in relationships and generate rights movement in America. Violence unforeseen ripple effects in the conscious- never works in this manner. In fact, it ness of all humanity. Violent means always blows back to cause unintend- employed in bringing about “successful” ed negative consequences. solutions only aid in perpetuating further violent outbreaks. Nonviolent methods bring about successful resolutions by trans- Why is Nonviolence So Important? forming and transcending conflict so that To fully grasp just how important nonvio- the parties involved grow closer together. lence is, we have to realize that humanity is Since the fruit will always be of the nature in its infancy. The fact that more people than of the seed planted, using positive energy ever protest war signifies a remarkable step creates positive results. By using what Dr. forward in human consciousness. We are Martin Luther King, Jr. called agape: cre- gradually realizing that violence is not a ative, understanding, redemptive goodwill sustainable approach to . for all people… the conflict is transformed Nonviolence will help us develop ways of so that all parties win. dealing with conflict compassionately and will give us tools to heal the planet rather than contribute more fear and anger. A posi- tive vision of the world we wish to create

4 Overview of Nonviolence (4/6) will fuel our lives with hope and meaning; without this vision, we “We are now faced with a choice between may not survive. As Dr. King said, “We are now faced with a nonviolence and non-existence.” choice between nonviolence and -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. non-existence.”

This is a chart of the casualties of war A Brief History of Nonviolence from the 1st to the 20th century (in the Nonviolence was not discovered. Gandhi millions): once said, “Nonviolence is as old as the hills.” 1-15th... 3.7 Although Gandhi was the first to map out 16th... 1.6 nonviolence as a system for social change, 17th... 6.1 the ideal of nonviolence has long been pres- 18th... 7.0 ent in human philosophy, making it an inte- 19th... 19.4 gral part of every major spiritual tradition on 20th... 109.7 the globe. Ancient Eastern history shows that ahim- How have we started the ? sa (“the complete absence of even the intention to harm”) has long been a funda- As one scholar explained, recognizing our mental part of , Jainism, and fundamental unity will not serve “to take us Buddhism. In the West, early Christians to heaven, but to save us from hell.” The were total pacifists in order to follow the most shocking aspect of this is that before teachings of Jesus literally, and Judaism and World War One, 10% of casualties were civil- Islam both contain teachings about nonvio- ians; today 90% of casualties are civilians. lence. (The Prophet, may peace be upon him, was nonviolent the entire time he was Being “nice to others” is something we in Mecca.) The world’s religious traditions all grew up hearing and was considered a and great spiritual teachers all convey with good idea. In today’s increasingly intercon- great simplicity that love is the way to nected world this is pragmatic and common peace, and that the way to achieve perma- sense. Why not embrace this idea and cre- nent good is through truth, love, and nonvi- ate life serving systems that will help olence. human beings flourish and fulfill their indi- Looking back on history, human existence vidual potentials to the fullest? If our goal is appears to be one long string of violent to create human beings who are loving, events. In reality, nonviolence is the norm— capable of showing deep caring for others, in fact, it’s so normal, it just doesn’t get alive to the spiritual and ethical dimensions recorded! A microcosm example of this is of being, ecologically sensitive, intellectual- one person stepping on another’s foot in ly active, self determining, and creative, BART—9 times out of 10, there is forgive- there are ways to restructure education to ness and no one ever hears about it; but the foster this potential. Nonviolence is an inte- one time there’s a fight, it’s a front page gral part of this type of education. story!

5 Overview of Nonviolence (5/6) “In the evolution of civiliza- tion, if it is to survive, all Despite this dynamic, many stories of men cannot fail eventually to adopt nonviolence have survived the ages. One Gandhi's belief that the process of mass example is that of Almachius or Telemachus, application of force to resolve contentious a monk who, in 393 AD, stood between two issues is fundamentally not only wrong but gladiators, moving them to throw down their contains within itself the germs of self- swords. When the enraged crowd attacked destruction.” and killed him, the emperor Onorius was so disgusted that he abolished the gladia- “Gandhi made it impossible for us to torial games, putting an end continue ruling , but he he made it to an egregious form of vio- lence in Roman society. possible for us to leave with dignity.” In the West, nonviolence -British Historian Arnold Toynbee went underground during the Middle Ages, after Constantine’s assimila- tion of Christianity ended its and made way for the “just war” doctrines of St. Shanti Sena - The Peace Army Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. It resur- faced in the original Quakers – George Fox, John Woolman, and William Penn, who founded the colony of Pennsylvania on non- violent principles – and in the writings of 19th century thinkers like Tolstoy. The 20th century, for all its horrendous violence, was also a time of a global renais- sance for nonviolence. Mahatma (“Great Soul”) Gandhi provided the world’s first “ocular demonstration” that a mass nonvio- lent campaign had the power to move hearts and free an entire people from subjugation. Describing the way in which Gandhi’s move- ment freed not only India from Britain’s colonialism, but in so doing freed Britain from its role as oppressor so that the two Gandhi’s concept of a “Shanti Sena,” or could be friends, renowned British historian Peace Army, was put into practice by his Arnold Toynbee commented, “Gandhi made colleague Badsahah Khan, who organ- it impossible for us to continue ruling India, ized 80,000 Muslim Pathans in India’s but he made it possible for us to leave with northwest frontier province. Formerly dignity.” fierce warriors, they channeled their Recognizing that Gandhi’s movement was courage to oppose the British using a watershed moment for the human race, only their hearts and minds, and laid General Douglas Macarthur, supreme Allied the groundwork for modern initiatives military commander in Japan commented, such as Nonviolent Peace Force.

6 Overview of Nonviolence (6/6) While some skeptics have charged that nonviolence could not “succeed” against an extremely Out of Gandhi’s nonviolent campaigns in ruthless opponent, World War II, a time of South Africa and India came the Shanti Sena horrendous evil and massive use of violence or “peace army” movement, the historical to resist evil, proved otherwise. Although it antecedent of today’s nonviolent peace- was rarely attempted, nonviolence achieved keeping projects (examples include Peace startling results when it was. For instance, Brigades International, Witness for Peace, in Berlin in 1943, German wives organized a and the Nonviolent Peaceforce). A key early protest outside the Rosenstrasse prison leader of this movement was Badshah Abdul when Nazis attempted to deport their Jewish Gaffar Khan, a Muslim who organized a husbands, and succeeded in securing their peace army comprised of 80,000 resilient Pathans who nonviolently opposed the British in India’s former northwest frontier The civil rights movement was nonviolence’s province, modern-day brilliant apex in the US. Afghanistan and Pakistan.

release. Hitler himself, alerted to the to the Nazis protest, found himself unable to order the final execution of the men. In the United States, pacifism and nonvio- lent resistance to war grew during WWI, WWII, and the Korean and wars, and nonviolent tactics have long been used in labor struggles. The civil rights movement and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. represented nonviolence’s brilliant apex in the US. King’s commitment to Gandhian (principled) nonvi- olence organized African Americans, with the support of sympathetic whites, to secure for themselves the civil rights and equality that were never theirs amidst the trauma of the civil war and its aftermath. Since the Civil Rights Movement, nonvio- lence has been a key element of every social At Rosenstrasse 2-4, the Jewish movement in the US, not just those relating Community Center where intermarried to militarism. Nonviolence has also Jews were imprisoned beginning Feb 27, informed insurrectionary and decolonization 1943, non-Jewish family members suc- movements in South Africa, the Philippines, cessfully protested. When Hitler was Burma, Palestine, Chile, and several coun- informed of the protests, he turned the tries of the old Soviet bloc. Today it is a key decision over to the notorious Joseph part of many social movements worldwide. Goebbels, who ordered their release.

7 About Nonviolence Education at Berkeley

What distinguishes the Nonviolence is a practical and study of nonviolence from other fields? empowering educational experience that Like many academic pro- is slowly catching on at universities. grams that approach social problems, and like PACS itself, the study of nonviolence is interdisci- human potential for both good and evil, plinary. Involving history, political science, interdependence as the supreme reality, and philosophy, religious studies, and psycholo- peace as possible! gy, it gives students a holistic view of the Realpolitik is not the final destiny of problem of violence and alternatives to it. humanity. Nonviolence is the emerging par- Like PACS, it is also an example of problem- adigm, and in fact, the one that must sup- based education, in which students’ desire plant realpolitik if the species is to survive. to learn is fueled by their desire to improve It is just about impossible to explain nonvio- the world. lence and how it both “succeeds” and works What makes nonviolence unique is that it through the realpolitik filter, which is why combines theory with practice, making for a so much skepticism exists, and why the practical and empowering educational expe- study of nonviolence is vital to students, to rience that is slowly catching on at universi- the University, and the future of peace. ties. Through studying the way Gandhi Nonviolence: An Emerging Paradigm lived, students consider new ways of living that are in line with their beliefs in peace and justice; by studying modern nonviolent social movements, students learn how they can put peace theory into practice through activism and involvement in civil society. Furthermore, the study of principled non- violence offers people an entirely new way of looking at the world. Most mainstream academic subjects are to some extent domi- nated by the “realpolitik” worldview first Gandhi’s Nonviolence offers a vision of postulated by Machiavelli. In the 21st centu- truth, reconciliation, healing, and coop- ry, Realpolitik’s skeptical worldview of inter- eration to supplant Machiavelli’s minable conflict, war, greed, and connivance realpolitik, the dominant paradigm of has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Its international relations that is sending materialist and negative conception of humanity over a cliff. human nature has permeated Western cul- ture, including our dominant intellectual fig- Thus, Nonviolence is a unique field of ures – Darwin, Marx and Freud. study because it provides both “glasses” Influenced by the spiritual worldviews of and “shoes,” giving students a new way of Gandhi and King, nonviolence sees the interpreting world events, as well as a

8 About Nonviolence Education at Berkeley (2/4) Why is nonviolence such an integral part of the PACS department? Nonviolence is one out of four survey areas in the PACS program, alongside Global Systems and World Order, Human Rights, and Conflict Resolution. The PACS department offers only two classes for Nonviolence – PACS 164A and 164B - com- pared to five PACS classes offered for Conflict Resolution. The two core nonvio- lence classes are essential to the survey area, because they provide a framework for the classes in other departments that deal tangentially with nonviolence, and because nonviolence theory is virtually absent from other PACS classes. Most students come into PACS with a Nonviolence provides both glasses - a desire to learn about peace activism. radically different way of looking at the Nonviolence education addresses this need world, and shoes - a way of effecting directly with its rich history of nonviolent change and living our lives. (Pictured movements in America and around the here: Gandhi’s earthly possessions.) world, and also with its presentation of non- violence theory, which is driving the cutting means for living their lives and going out edge of the present-day global peace move- into the world and making changes. This ment. commitment to both theory and practice is anchored in the philosophy of Gandhi, who declared, “I am a practical idealist.” Living Nonviolence: in India and at the University Students Co-Operative Association

Gandhi established four spiritual commu- Berkeley students at Lothlorien Co-op nities where nonviolence was lived, (many of whom study nonviolence) live including Sabramati Ashram. Residents their lives much in accordance with the practiced and valued simplicity, service, Mahatma’s ideals, including sustainability, and co-operative living. locally-grown produce, and .

9 About Nonviolence Education at Berkeley (3/4) Nonviolence also provides a forum for students who feel Many students believe nonviolence is the that the most fundamental aspect of conflict transforma- energetic basis for conflict transformation. tion is changing the hearts and minds of the people involved in the con- department, the most daring of its new flict. According to nonviolence theory this ideas and one which inspires countless stu- happens through “integrative power” – the dents. power of people to disarm each other by showing their humanity. Why has nonviolence education so deeply These students are most concerned with impacted the lives of some people? the “heart and soul” of conflict – with peo- Many PACS students recall PACS 164A ple’s psychology and spirituality, not just and 164B as the most important classes the social and power structures in which they took at Berkeley, ones that had the they struggle, or the political, international, most effect on them personally and have and material aspects of the conflict. To most influenced their life’s work. Part of the these students, nonviolence is therefore the class’ transformative power lies in its intro- energetic basis for not merely the resolution duction of an entirely new paradigm or of conflicts, but for conflict transformation. worldview, one that is tremendously hope- PACS, grounded as it is in peace studies – giving. Through its radical to the a field based on a cosmopolitan paradigm of status quo, it helps students look at the international relations – provides an innova- dominant paradigm with new eyes, giving tive and indeed transformative approach to them perspective on what they had previ- conflict and war. Nonviolence is the most ously been immersed in. This awareness of transformative, and indeed the most revolu- the dominant worldview gives students a tionary, element of study in PACS because greater understanding of the causes of vio- of its radical rejection of violence. This lence and injustice, and therefore a better makes it arguably the heart and soul of the handle on the world’s overwhelming prob- lems and how they can be solved. Students Protest the School of the Americas The chance to learn from Dr. Nagler, famous around the world among those who study nonvio- lence as well as a promi- nent figure in the peace community, is part of what makes the classes special for students. The Inspired by Gandhi’s campaigns of , same can be said of all numerous students have nonviolently protested the School the peace scholars and of the Americas, a US-sponsored training ground for South activists who visit the American assassins and paramilitants. The “SOA Watch” is class as guest speakers. covered by PACS 164B. For a would-be activist,

10 About Nonviolence Education at Berkeley (4/4) tionary and negative nature of the antiwar movement, these people provide tremendously inspir- it’s a breath of fresh air to learn that nonvio- ing examples and role models, as well as lence requires you to be for something, not living proof that change is happening, and just against. It provides a vision of the world that we will be able to use our education to that people can work for, rather than just a improve the world. scary status quo they feel compelled to The classes are also tremendously help- oppose. For students who don’t feel com- ful to young people who care about peace fortable with protesting, the distinction because they suggest a number of useful between obstructive and constructive pro- orientations toward activism, social change, gram is also a breath of fresh air. and how to relate to one’s political “oppo- “Constructive program” helps students see nents.” Political activism at Berkeley tends that the work of serving others and creating to be very polarized, strident, and draining. new ways of living in community is essential Nonviolence, with its focus on “being in it to social change – and it doesn’t need to for the long haul” and not being attached to wait on any authority or revolution. the results of your actions, but rather acting Nonviolence education has also been on principle, helps students make their known to catalyze transformations in peo- activism more sustainable. It also shows ple’s personal lives, as they begin to consid- students how they can make their political er how to bring more truth and peace into presence on campus more civil and honor- their relationships. It also provides the tools able – by following Gandhi’s maxim that for some of these changes; examples “you must be the change you wish to see in include theories of dialogue, Nonviolent the world,” and therefore only using meth- Communication, and a grasp of Gandhi’s ods that you would like to see in the kind of interfaith spirituality that makes it easier to society you’re working to create. recognize the Self in the Other. For students frustrated with the reac-

Constructive Programme: in India and Berkeley

“Constructive Programme” - or internal In Berkeley, students inspired by Gandhi’s improvement - is the heart of Nonviolence. example of Constructive Programme are In addition to self-sustaining economy tutoring students at local schools, volun- such as spinning cotton for local produc- teering at Berkeley Free Clinic, and form- tion of clothes, Gandhi was a teacher and ing the student-run Conflict Resolution founded an institution of higher education. and Transformation Center on campus.

11 PACS 164B: Nonviolence Today Overview

How is the legacy of and Martin How is the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi Luther King, Jr. relevant to and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the world today? This is the primary question addressed relevant to the world today? by Peace and Cconflict Studies 164B: Nonviolence Today. The class said, in his heart, ‘I will do this.’” casts a discerning light on the modern his- The climactic moment came when Marcos tory of nonviolence, including insurrec- ordered air strikes, and a pilot turned away, tionary movements, antiwar activism, inno- unable to fire on the masses of his country- vative nonviolent mechanisms for peace- men, who were nonviolently protecting a keeping, peacemaking, and peacebuilding, group of military rebels. and the role of non-governmental organiza- Two other well-known nonviolent insurrec- tions. tionary movements occurred in the for- Nonviolent Insurrectionary Movements mer Soviet Union. In All across the globe, people have been har- Poland, the trade nessing the power of nonviolence to facili- union Solidarity led tate peaceful regime change. In 1986, the by Lech Walesa Philippines People Power Movement mobi- organized national lized a broad-ranging coalition of peasants strikes in 1980 and and the middle class opposed dictator 1988 that eventually Ferdinand Marcos’ election theft using led to constitutional Gandhian approaches such as cultural reforms and the elec- preparation, organization building, nonvio- tion of Walesa as Inspired by Vaclav lence propaganda, President in 1990. In massive non-cooper- Havel, the Czech the Czech Republic, a Republic’s Velvet ation, and parallel students’ protest in institutions. Revolution took less 1989 sparked one than 45 days. While this move- week of continuous ment is known for national demonstrations, culminating in a the power of the peo- rally of 500,000 at a football stadium, and ple to change gov- the installation of Vaclav Havel, the “peo- ernment, the true ple’s and inspiration,” less than power was found in 45 days after the beginning of the so-called the commitment of Velvet Revolution. Other modern nonviolent each individual. As Lech Walesa led insurrectionary movements include El Cardinal Jaime Sin Salvador, Chile, and Burma. Indeed, today national strikes for two noted, “It was about 33% of the world’s population lives Poland’s Solidarity million independent under a regime that has been affected by a movement, resulting decisions. Each one in his election. nonviolent movement.

12 PACS 164B: Nonviolence Today Overview (2/5) secure a two-state solution, it worked in that it activated When Nonviolence “Succeeds” and when it a massive swath of the Israeli populace, “Fails” (but it always Works) previously dormant, who became active on Nonviolence is both a practice and a sci- behalf of the Palestinian cause. The highly ence and must be studied as such. For mainstream Israeli group organ- instance, the Philippines movement was the ized tens of thousands to demonstrate on “culmination of years of preparation for behalf of their Palestinian sisters and broth- such an uprising through the training of ers, a shift in consciousness similar to the Filipinos, both in the change when white Northerners began years preceding the working on behalf of black Southerners dur- uprising as well as ing the US civil rights movement. during the hours of the uprising itself, in the methods of non- violent resistance.” Here, we learn the key role of training. Similarly, we can study the “failures” Cory Acquino was a of other movements key organizer in the – the first Palestinian Philippines Intifada (a “mostly” People Power nonviolent uprising) Movement. failed to achieve a Although the “mostly nonviolent” first two-state solution Intifada (1987-1991) did not “succeed” in because the movement was not continued establishing a Palestinian state, it worked when Israel built more illegal settlements by reaching the hearts and minds of thou- during the Oslo period (illustrating the need sands of Israelis who organized through for long-term, relentless persistence). An mainstream groups such as Peace Now. argument could also be made that stone- throwing by young Palestinians, while only Peacekeeping, Peacemaking, and 5% of the total activity of what was other- Peacebuilding wise a nonviolent movement, distracted Peace scholar Johan Galtung approaches from the movement’s message, illustrating a conflict through the filter of three steps: key principle called Nagler’s Law: contami- peacekeeping (stopping the conflict when nation with violence will always undermine the bullets are flying), peacemaking (creat- a nonviolent movement. ing a collaborative agreement process for While nonviolent movements sometimes stakeholders to establish what the peace succeed in accomplishing specific definable will look like), and peacebuilding (develop- goals, and sometimes fail, nonviolence ing institutions and long-term structural always works to produce unforeseen ripples changes for a lasting peace based on justice in the consciousness of humanity that result and transforming relationships). While this in positive shifts and systemic changes. For three-step process is often accepted in the instance, while the first Intifada “failed” to international arena, the new and ground-

13 PACS 164B: Nonviolence Today Overview (3/5) Nonviolent Communication In 1961, clinical psycholo- breaking mechanisms of nonviolence that gist Dr. Marshall Rosenberg set out to create address each step are recent and crucial a language that would stop the need for vio- additions to the world’s toolkit for dealing lence. Forty years later, people use the tech- with conflict, and have yet to penetrate the niques of Nonviolent Communication on five mainstream – which is far too caught up on continents, including in , the flimsy political solutions (ie the Middle East, Western Europe, Russia, Israel/Palestine Oslo accords, which in fact , Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, were a setback to Palestinians seeking to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Burundi, end the occupation of the West and several countries in Latin Bank and Gaza). America. Nonviolent Third-Party Nonviolent Communication is based on a Intervention (TPNI) sophisticated understanding Although in some ways this of what motivates people idea is as old as the hills – toward violence and why how many of us instinctively some people, even in trying know that the way to stop a fight circumstances, are moved to is to step in-between the com- compassion instead. batants? – it is only in recent Restorative Justice times that Third-Party Nonviolent With a prison population of over Intervention has been developed 2 million, America’s legal and into an articulated, practical judicial system faces a crisis of method for peacekeeping. Non- epic proportions: the systematic fail- governmental organizations such as ure of retributive justice to con- Christian Peacemaker Teams, Peace tribute to the healing of society. Brigades International, and Retributive justice perpetuates the Nonviolent Peaceforce send peace erroneous assumption that punish- workers armed only with their training ing someone will somehow contribute in nonviolence to cool down to their rehabilitation or offer sub- Above: Christian intense conflicts – with great suc- stantive healing for the victim, Peacemaker Teams, cess. TPNI can take the form of despite studies that have shown Nonviolent physical interposition between that given identical crimes, the Peaceforce, and armed combatants, accompani- person who is not put in prison is Peace Brigades ment of the oppressed, witness- less likely to repeat the crime International are ing, or even the deployment of a than the person who is. three well-known large-scale “peace army.” Areas Restorative justice is a new non- Third-Party where TPNI has either succeeded, violent paradigm to supplant the Nonviolent or is currently in progress, outmoded and dysfunctional sys- Intervention NGOs. include Guatemala, Nicaragua, tem. Restorative justice “offers a Colombia, the US/Mexico Border, process whereby those affected by criminal indigenous Canadian lands, behavior, be they victims, offenders, the Israel/Palestine, and Sri Lanka. families involved, or the wider community, all have a part in resolving the issues that

14 PACS 164B: Nonviolence Today Overview (4/5) flow from the offending….The process does of politically fueled not focus on vengeance and punishment but rage. Similar com- seeks to heal both the community and the missions have been individuals involved [by putting] reparation organized in Bolivia, at the center.” Brazil, Burundi, Côte Examples of restorative justice can be d'Ivoire, East Timor, found in numerous indigenous traditions, Ethiopia, Honduras, such as Australia, South Africa, New Paraguay, Peru, Zealand, Canada, and Ireland. The wisdom Rwanda, and Uganda. The Truth and of restorative justice is being studied for Reconciliation application in the Western world, even in Antiwar Activism and Commission led to the California state prison system. Organizations remarkable healing Antiwar activism has in post- Truth and Reconciliation Commissions a played a significant South Africa. Truth and Reconciliation Commissions are and evolving role in a restorative justice mechanism to facilitate US and world history. A defining moment community healing following an intense was the founding of the International conflict. In post-Apartheid South Africa, the Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) on the commission offered amnesty from criminal eve of World War I, when Henry Hodgkin, a prosecution to offenders who committed British Quaker, and Friedrich Siegmund- politically motivated crimes during the Schultze, a German pacifist Chaplain, vowed Apartheid era if they were willing to truth- that they would refuse to sanction war or fully confess and dialogue with the victim(s) violence and that or family of the victim(s). they would work to further peace and love in order to resolve con- flicts no matter what the future might bring. The IFOR now has 66 branches on five The International continents, counts Fellowship of six Novel Peace Reconciliation is a Prize Laureates transnational NGO among its former Documented by the film “Long Night’s working for peace and and present mem- Journey into Day,” the S.A. commission nonviolence. bers, and pro- brought together blacks and whites in motes nonviolence worldwide. remarkable scenes – at times with heart- moving success, as in the case of black South Africans who apologized to a white family for murdering their daughter in an act

15 PACS 164B: Nonviolence Today Overview (5/5)

In the US, the history of antiwar opposition Key Texts includes the era of radical pacifism and the rise of conscientious objectors (C.O.s) – spanning both World Wars and the Vietnam War, and challenges students to imagine a new system of global security and justice to replace the dominant paradigm of endless conflict.

Key text featured includes Nonviolence in America: a Documentary History by Staughton Lynd and Alice Lynd, Nonviolent Social Movements: a Geographical Perspective edited by Stephen Zunes, Lester R. Kurtz, and Sarah Beth Asher, and Peace is the Way edited by Walter Wink. Key figures of radical pacifism include Nonviolence Today! David Dellinger, Dorothy Day, and A.J. Whether used on a massive scale to end Muste (pictured) who boldly proclaimed, the reign of an oppressive system of govern- “There is no way to peace, ment, a method for community-based heal- peace is the way.” ing in restorative justice and Truth and Reconciliation Commissions, a new lan- Key Films guage and model for respectful, nurturing Key films include A Force More Powerful, dialogue as in Nonviolent Communication, a What Looks Like, Bringing Down way of living, or all of the above and more, a Dictator,and Long Night’s Journey Into Day. nonviolence has relevance to every facet of our lives and the future of humanity. Key Speakers If one is to believe the convictions of Dr. High-profile guest speakers who have Martin Luther King, Jr., nonviolence may be been involved in real-world conflict and the most important lesson we ever learn. In peace work are a compelling highlight of the his words, “We are now faced with a choice class. Past speakers have included Mubarak between nonviolence and non-existence.” Awad of Nonviolence International, Miki We invite you to make this choice with us. Kashtan of Bay Area Nonviolent Communication, internationally renowned peace scholar Dr. Johan Galtung, Prof. Stephen Zunes of the University of San Francisco, Israeli Human Rights Lawyer Yael Barda, and Alan Senauke of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

16