This WaPo op-ed from last Sunday is by John Paul Lederach, a professor emeritus of international peacebuilding at the University of Notre Dame. It’s interesting that when we think about peace making or keeping, we mostly think about the absence of violence. The most famous peace-seekers deal with armed conflicts (as well they should) and yet there are plenty of people who do this kind of work with disagreements way short of armed conflicts.
As I wrote yesterday, peacemaking is an interesting lens to look at our long-running forest conflicts. In the op-ed:
First, we need to reach beyond our isolated bubbles. In other places, reaching out frequently started with a few people who had the imagination to take a small risk: They dared to open a conversation with their perceived enemies in their own community. This small step was the start of a meaningful journey.
Second, we have to rehumanize our adversaries. We must have the courage to confront dehumanizing language and behavior, especially when it comes from within our closest circles. For many, like the Improbables in Valledupar, these became guiding daily practices: Refuse to belittle others. Stay curious about their lives. Speak about your own deeply held convictions without blame, retreat or demonization.
Finally, we need to stick with it. We can’t just pull away when difficult issues emerge.We must engage on policy but also acknowledge deep-seated fears, historic wrongs and identity differences.People who learn to stay the course know that politics without violence is possible only when we stay connected. It’s hard, but not nearly as difficult as stopping a war.
The very notion of the Improbables suggests the unexpected can have transformative power. When former enemies jointly propose ideas, it shocks the system of toxicity. People can no longer react instinctively; they must stop and look twice. Even a short pause of curiosity opens potential for a more meaningful conversation.
That’s what we try to do here at TSW, but the idea and writing stakes are pretty low, since many of us have no political power to do, or not do, actions in the real world.
It is an opportunity, though, to give a big shout out to the people engaged in these peace-making processes, whether in collaborative groups across the country, FACA committees, or other efforts.
Thank you all for what you do! It’s hard work, for many it’s unpaid, and often little appreciated.