IS 501

History and Philosophy of War, Peace & Peacefulness

This course provides an overview of the historical and philosophic foundations for peace and conflict studies, introducing the language, themes, and ideologies of specific individuals, groups, and nations. Colleagues examine a variety of perspectives on peace and evaluate the complex factors that hinder peace-building in war and conflict scenarios, such as the pursuit of equity (as a function of human rights, fairness, and economic balance), ideological, linguistic, and psycho-social configurations of social interaction (surrounding such issues as race, gender, and class), and the levels of conflict surrounding intrinsic changes in cultural and social values (as manifested in signs of dissatisfaction, civil unrest, and latent conflict). The objective of this course is to explore the interrelationships among ideologies and behavior that contribute to both conflict and peace-building efforts.

The imperative for peace requires a complex understanding of the many sources of conflict in modern society, including marginalization, materialism, and the outcomes of Marxism, capitalism, and Western constructs of masculinity. In this course, Colleagues ultimately learn to define peace as more than the absence of conflict – rather, as a state of being that is founded in understanding, tolerance, and cooperation. Learning to recognize connectivity is presented as an essential step in the peace-building process, and stewardship and education are explored as means for attaining environmental sustainability, economic prosperity, and political security. Colleagues also identify the ways in which personal transformation affects community culture.

What and how we think can have a great impact on whether or not we are able to successfully support peace and peacefulness. This course explores the psychological and linguistic structures upon which values and beliefs are constructed, internalized, and articulated. Colleagues examine the psychological motivators for intrapersonal and social conflicts, and they consider the broad ways in which language can mediate collective consciousness – either to create psychological security or engender aggression. The objective of this course is to develop strategies for generating a collective consciousness that is rooted in peace-building.

Colleagues examine selected artistic and literary works in this course, and discover the influence of aesthetic expression on cultural values, political ideologies, and social perspectives. Performance, media, and visual arts, are analyzed along side political commentary and propaganda. Colleagues evaluate their influence on the national collective consciousness and assess their ability to transform understanding, enable insight, disperse values, and motivate action. Program participants also explore the institutional structures that propagate and reinforce patriotism and national identities. Participants explore the value of aesthetic expression as a reflection of human attitudes and as a demonstration of human potential.

Connective language is a powerful facilitating force that promotes conflict transformation and the resolution of grievances. In this course, Colleagues take an in depth look at selected communication techniques, including debate, constructive and destructive dialogue, persuasive speech, and investigate the phenomenon referred to as “linguistic transcendence.” Program participants synthesize protocols for interpersonal communication, conflict management, active listening, nonviolent communication, appeasement, and cooperation. The course also examines transcendence, transformation, and generative leadership as processes that facilitate the establishment of alliances, create coalitions, and enable mutually-beneficial conflict transformation agreements.

As long as there have been conflicts between individuals, groups, communities, and nations, there have been efforts to promote peace. In this course, Colleagues identify the qualities of individuals, places, and situations that enable negotiation, compromise, and peace-building to succeed. Colleagues examine organizations that have been successful in their promulgation of peace, as well as the strategic frameworks used by activists and peace-building movements/projects that are working to redistribute power, reallocate resources, and transform personal attitudes and cultural beliefs.

Peace exists within a micro-macro continuum – beginning with the individual, extending to his or her community, and radiating outward within the region or nation. This continuum is made complex through the intellectual, cultural, social, and economic interactions that structure human experience. In this course, Colleagues use case study analysis and the technique of piloting to effect peace within the micro-macro continuum. Program participants also learn to effectively assess the feasibility of a variety of peace initiatives, and explore such topics as the potential for permanent peace, the inevitability of conflict, and the substantive nature of mediation.

The Action Research Project is designed to be the beginning of a life-long commitment to investigation that perpetuates peace-building and advocates peace as essential for attaining the highest quality of life. This course provides a pragmatic research foundation, within which the content of all previous courses may be applied and evaluated. Colleagues are introduced to the theoretical and practical application frameworks used to conduct action research, collaborative inquiry, and participatory research that has its roots in liberation theology and human rights activism. Participants’ projects are designed to integrate broad social analyses, research methodologies, literature review, self-reflection and assessment, and the articulation of findings that explain and improve social phenomena.

The mentorship provides experiences and opportunities for the development of understanding and meaning in real-world contexts. Colleagues develop skills, insights, and performance abilities required for a long-term commitment to peace activism. Working with established organizations and individuals, Colleagues become engaged in the intense process of peace-building. The mentorship requires a minimum of 80 hours of contact time. Comprehensive reporting of the mentorship experience is required, including systematic journal keeping and formal comprehensive written and oral reports.

Each participant is required to conduct an in-depth research study, based on the action research design and mentorship experience, which rigorously expands colleagues’ new knowledge and insights. Program participants are required to develop a comprehensive report which reflects the history of the project, from its inception through its execution, and assessment. Participants are required to articulate their research project as an oral presentation to their cohort and to a Juried Review Committee.