Peace

* Marc Gopin's Blog
* Marc Gopin bio
* Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
* Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution
* E&A introduction
Eden to Armageddon p. 6 The _need to integrate_ warring with the _need to be unique_ seems to be amonth the most fundamental causes of conflict at the level of basic identity. [fn] The jewish image of ger.
Since 2000, Religion moves to a central place in peace building and in internatinoal policy. Prior to that time it was seen as irrelevant, irrational. Because of: 1) Prevlaent role of religion in conflict. (The revenge of God). 2) secular world hasn't successfully addressed the rising violence today. 3) internal developments in peace studies have sought to include more cultural elements. Also the rise of truth, justice, goodness and hope. Also the inclusion of groundroots diplomacy (track 3).
Methodology: 2 hrs, except 3 hrs in december classes. Each prepare presentation of 25 minutes. Send draft of presentation with some questions for discussion. Add summary of discussion of the book and critical reflections. Presentation. 10-15 pages. Presentation is to present basic ideas and arguments - critique if possible. Help people understand what it about.

The first part reviews the history of ethical theories about peace and war with a special focus on the relation between pacifism and the ‘just war’ tradition, and the historical interaction between theological and secular arguments.


War Start with War because if you want peace, you have to understand the logic of war. This should be about peace building; since the mid 90s there has been an increasing understanding of the role of religion in the peace process. Facts about war: World War I: 15% civilians casualties; World War 2 60% civilian casualties; now about 90% civilian casualties. This shows increased cruelty and attrocity of modern warfare. World War 1: 42 million allied persons mobilized (many chinese); 23 million German persons mobilized; 8 million soldiers killed. Under the influence of war on terror: it has renewed just war thinking. Between amoral power and powerless moralism. The criteria of ethicists are used as propaganda to justify war. Leuven Bombed in 1944 - war isn't abstract, but destroys lives.


Ius ad bellum to go to war, in bello - is during the war (proportionality, noncombatant immunity). Just cause, Legitimate authority, right intention, intention for peace, proporationality, reasonable chance of success. Thomas assumes war is evil and asks if war is ALWAYS evil. Wars of the 20th of century began and ended the wars. David Toole: Waiting for Godot in Sarajevo. Arguments of ethicists are part of the war effort. Germans, French and English were at a peace conference in Leuven in 1911 and then went home and justified patriotic war efforts. Torture of AbuGrabe / Guantanamo is from Latin American written by a harvard ethicist and who studied nazi torture technique - tested on communists.


Reintroduction of Preemptive War. against UN Charter Article 2.

The second part is a critical examination of the use and ideological misuse of moral criteria with regard to contemporary armed conflicts.

Via a critical interpretation of (German General) Clausewitz’ philosophy of war and its presuppositions, the third part is devoted to: the primacy of political ends; a critique of the morality of states (and of its theological legitimations); an examination of contemporary theories of international ethics and of the U.N. peace policy. You have to understand the logic of the state and the rationality of politics - politics only tempers violence when the politicians understand the violent undercurrents of society, e.g. Komeni in Iran. The intelligence were focusing on the communists, not the religious leaders when he came to power. We therefore need to develop an ethic of international relations.

The third part treats theories of humanitarian intervention, with case studies such as the Gulf war and the war in Bosnia. Attention is paid to the problem of nuclear deterrence (especially in the context of the conflict between India and Pakistan) and to the problem of terrorism. When can you violate state sovereignty?

The forth part treats the (ambivalent) role of religion in peace processes, with a focus on the problem of reconciliation (with cases such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa and Rwanda after the genocide).

Peace making with weapons, peace building is positive process. Seminar - role of religion in politics.


Exam: list of questions, one or two is chosen.

Zionists saw their own responsibility for messianism - they project guilt on not militant jews. Haredi was the zionist as a bad movement, an undermining of the messianic longing. Both interpret holocaust as different - one as to be avenged, the other as to convince zionists of their errors - bringing the wrath of Nazis and Arabs.

Monnonites Peace Church along with Brethren and Quakers. Separatist Mennonites and some In the world. Experience of persecution, minority. Standing for the of persecution makes them compassionate - standing for the defenseless. Mission is not aggressive, but by bringing Jesus peaceful ideals into a violent world. Virtues: humility, sensitivity, relationship building, not instrumentalist approach to peace. Elicitive method - drawing peacemethods form the community itself. Conflict resolutions maintaining their deep values, but also bringing their method into a conflict situation - they are all converted / transformed, conflict parties and the mennonites as well. Peacemaking: having spiritual formation, not imposing theology, articulating ethical principles, rediscover common values, generate support for peacemaking efforts, deal with real tensions of peacemaking, listen ot reality of other religions. combine religious and secular peacebuliding. Siding with victim?? what about oppresser? Can this translate into pluralist context? Todays vitcims tomorrows killers? Class of values in peacemaking