Nonviolent Social Change in the Contemporary World

Abstract

Nonviolence is the most powerful and successful philosophy of social change today. In the last century, it led to major change - ending colonial rule in India, removing ruthless dictatorships in South America and the Philippines, bringing down totalitarian regimes in Eastern Europe, improving women's and civil rights in the West, reducing the global threat of nuclear war, and helping to preserve the natural environment (Ackerman and Duvall 2000:3-4). Now, with climate change requiring further drastic action, such as the end of the wasteful extravagance of the military-industrial complex – the world's single largest polluter (Thomas 1995) - nonviolence attains even greater significance. The Centre for Peace Studies at the University of New England last year held its first Short Course in "Nonviolent Social Change in the Contemporary World". The course aimed to give participants theoretical insights into nonviolent action, through lectures and discussions. More than that, however, it was practice-based, with exercises, role-plays and group activities that reflect the collaborative and down-to-earth nature of nonviolence praxis. We hoped to balance the deadly serious nature of some areas of nonviolence with humour, games, creative activities and 'open space' discussions, and an emphasis on solutions to global problems such as militarism and other forms of violence, injustice and environmental destruction.