PEACE THEOLOGY 101

PEACE THEOLOGY 101

LECTURE

7

PEACE THEOLOGY 101

PEACE THEOLOGY 101Introduction to Peace Theology.

This course will help the students to appreciate and to evaluate a biblical understanding and contemporary practice of Peace Theology. Such evaluation will be done within the framework of social sciences and informed from the perspective of biblical theology.

The students will be intellectually, emotionally, and volitionally involved in the current discussions on the meanings, proposals, and tasks of Peace Theology.

PEACE THEOLOGY 101

TOWARDSA TANAKHTHEOLOGY

OFSOCIO-POLITICAL

TRANSFORMATION

PEACE THEOLOGY 101

Harmony with God (Spiritual Transformation)

PEACE THEOLOGYTHE PEACE OF GOD IS CENTRAL TO THE GOOD NEWS

Harmony with Others (Social-Political Transformation)

Harmony with the Creation (Economic-Ecological Transformation)

Harmony with the Self (Psycho-Social Transformation)

PEACEBUILDING=SHALOMLIVING

PEACEBUILDING IS SHALOMLIVING

SHALOM-LIVING IS A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGYShalomLiving encompasses, generates, and sustains the full array of processes, approaches, and stages needed to transform conflict toward more sustainable, peaceful relationships.

SHALOM-LIVING IS A DYNAMIC TRANSFORMATIONShalomLiving is not merely seen as a stage in time or a condition. It is a dynamic transformation and requires a process of continuous building. It needs investment and materials, architectural design and coordination of labor, laying of a foundation, detailed finish work, as well as continuing maintenance.

SHALOM-LIVING INVOLVES WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIESShalomLiving involves a wide range of activities and functions that both precede and follow formal peace accords. Such activities include conflict transformation, military intervention and conversion, governance and policymaking, restorative and transitional justice, environmental protection, human rights, civilian and military peacekeeping, peace education, activism and advocacy, trauma healing, and social-economic development .

ACTORS TO PEACEBUILDING

LEVEL 1:TOP LEADERSHIP

LEVEL 2:MIDDLE-RANGE

LEADERSHIP

LEVEL 3:GRASSROOTSLEADERSHIP

:: Focus on high-level negotiations:: Emphasizes ceasefire:: Led by highly visible, single mediator

:: Problem-solving workshops:: Training in conflict resolution:: Peace Commissions:: Insider-partial teams

:: Local Peace Commissions:: Grassroots training:: Prejudice reduction:: Psycho-social work in post-war trauma

AFFEC

TED

PO

PU

LATIO

N

FEW

MANY

ACTORS ACTIONS

SYSTEM

SUB-SYSTEM

RELATIONSHIP

ISSUE

DESIGN OFSOCIAL

CHANGE5-10 yrs

DESIREDFUTURE

10-25+ yrs

LEV

EL O

F R

ES

PO

NS

E

TIME FRAME OF ACTIVITY

AN INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK FOR PEACEBUILDING

ROOT CAUSESWhat are the root

causes of the crisis?

VISIONWhat are the social structures and relationships we desire?

TRANSFORMATIONHow do we get from

crisis to desired change?

CRISIS MANAGEMENTHow do we manage

the immediate crisis?

PREVENTIONHow do we prevent thecrisis from recurring?

John Paul Lederach, Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies (USIP, Wash., DC, 1997, p. 80)

CRISISINTER-

VENTION6 wks-1 yr

PREPARATIONAND

TRAINING1-5 yrs

Conflict is an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce recources, and interference from the other party in achieving their goals.

CONFLICT

CONFLICTTRANSFORMATION…is to envision and respond to the ebb and flow of socialconflict as life-giving opportunities for creating constructive change processes that reduce violence, increase justice in direct interaction and social structures, and respond to real-life problems in human relationships.

CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

CONFLICT RESOLUTIONSocial processes focused on solving

specific issues or cases affecting ConflictTransformation. It's the smaller picture

that affects the bigger picture.

CONFLICT TRANSFORMATIONProcesses of change in relationships...

towards reconciliation... continuous...life-time process... It's the big picture.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION CONTINUUM

LEGISLATIVE

JUDICIAL APPROACHES

ARBITRATION

MEDIATION

FACILITATION

CONCILIATION

NEGOTIATION

INFORMALDISCUSSION & PROBLEM SOLVING

EXTERNALINFLUENCE

TO THEPROCESS AND

OUTCOME

PARTIES’CONTROL OF

PROCESS ANDOUTCOME

MANAGING CONFLICT ENERGY

CONFLICT ENERGY

EXPRESSEDCONSTRUCTIVELY

EXPRESSEDDESTRUCTIVELY REPRESSEDSUPPRESSED

VIOLENCE CONFLICT CONTINUES

LOST OPPORTUNITY

FOR GOOD RESULT

PERSONAL, SOCIAL, AND

POLITICAL CHANGE

RESENTMENT AND INJUSTICES INCREASE

PEACE THEOLOGY 101

PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION

Reconciliation is focused on

building relationship between antagonists.

Reconciliation is a place, a locus, a space created for encounter by the parties.

Reconciliation is a great biblical-theological concept and a practical course of action.

POSITIONS AND INTERESTS

POSITION POSITION

INTERESTS

HOW CONFLICT TRANSFORMS A COMMUNITY

7. POLARIZATION Change in social organization

6. ANTAGONISM Hostility

5. EYE FOR AN EYE Reaction & escalation

4. NEGATIVE TRIANGLE Talk negatively about, not with

3. ISSUE PROLIFERATION From specific to general

2. SHIFT FROM DISAGREEMENT TO PERSONAL ANTAGONISM Person seen as problem

1. PROBLEM-SOLVING Disagree but share problem

CASE NEEDS INTERVENTION

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PEACE THEOLOGY 101

4. NEGATIVE TRIANGLE Talk negatively about, not with

THE JOURNEY TOWARDS RECONCILIATION

4. POSITIVE TRIANGLE Talk positively about, not with

7. POLARIZATION Change in social organization

6. ANTAGONISM Hostility

5. EYE FOR AN EYE Reaction & escalation

3. ISSUE PROLIFERATION From specific to general

2. SHIFT FROM DISAGREEMENT TO PERSONAL ANTAGONISM Person seen as problem

1. PROBLEM-SOLVING Disagree but share problem

CASE NEEDS INTERVENTION

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7. CEASEFIRE Realize effects of violence

6. MONITOR CEASEFIRE Seek mediation

5. AGREE TO NEGOTIATE Proactive de-escalation

M

+3. ISSUE CLARIFICATION From general to specific

2. SHIFT FROM PERSONAL ANTAGONISM TO DISAGREEMENT Person not seen as problem

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1. STICK WITH PROBLEM-SOLVING Disagree but share problem

REFLECTION:

THE HUMANDIMENSIONSOF MY ENEMY