Peace Studies - MPCT 305

This course will be based on five different ways to understand and interpret nonviolence.

These five are:

Nonviolence as a philosophy

This will go into the concepts of peace-issues within religion, political philosophy and old myths. Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas Gandhi, Buddha, Arne Næss, Marija Gimbutas, J Ferguson and other authors will be used to exemplify this understanding of the concept of nonviolence.

Nonviolence as a political tool and a type of action

This will be based on the modern tradition of Nonviolent actions from Richard Gregg, Stephen King-Hall, Gene Sharp, Brian Martin and Robert Burrows. Here the focus will be on radical actions to protect or change political discussions and systems on large scale (states, nations) and small scale (groups, individuals)

Nonviolence as a alternative defence system

Here the concept of Civilian Based Defence and Social Defence will be studied and discussed. The works of Gene Sharp, Michael Randle, Brian Martin and Jørgen Johansen will be used as texts in addition to proposals from the students themselves.

Nonviolence as lifestyle

This part will study the relevance of Peace Communities, Alternative Lifestyles, Constructive Work and the New Social Movements. What are the consequences of a nonviolent lifestyle for the individual, the group and for the society at large? Articles from modern journals will be used as starting points for discussions.

Nonviolence as a way of Conflict Transformation

Here the students will be introduced to some of the leading schools within Conflict Resolution and Conflict Transformation. The Theories of John Paul Lederach, Johan Galtung, Eliese Boulding, John Burton, Adam Curle and others will be presented and up for critical discussions. The different styles and understandings of conflicts will be studied and used for practical exercises.

One introductory lecture for each of these variations will focus on the existing research done and the present activities in the field. The students are asked to propose additional literature for each focus.

Methodology:

The whole course will be based on Problem Based Learning. Each student is asked to write a one page paper containing a formulation of a problem based on one of the four main interpretations on Nonviolence. The rest of the course will use these problem formulations from the students as bases for lectures, seminars and group-discussions. Texts to read will be provided for each problem-formulation and the students will, together with the teacher decide on the scheme for each week.