A Paradigm Shift From Violence to Non-Violence

Dr. Machira Apollos

About the author:  Dr. Machira Apollos has an earned doctorate from United Graduate College and Seminary, USA. He resides in Kenya, Africa and is active in peacekeeping training around the world. The following is excerpts from his article “A Paradigm Shift From Violence to Non-Violence.” 

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    It is a fact that we live in a world with conflicts: war, torture, ethno-cultural rivalries and violence. Against those problems there is a slow but growing recognition of the value of non-violence to solve them. For the educator, more than a subject, nonviolence has to be an attitude within the whole teaching practice, involving the entire staff of the school, parents and the surrounding community in a common, shared endeavor.

     At first glance, violence may appear to be a superior technique for resolving conflicts or achieving desired ends because it has obvious and tangible strategies and weapons. Nonviolent techniques are often more difficult to visualize and there is no shortage of moral and practical dilemmas that skeptics are able to raise as impediments to taking nonviolence seriously.

     Yet many reasons can be offered for the employment of nonviolence: it is a 'weapon' available to all, it is least likely to alienate opponents and third parties, and it breaks the cycle of violence and counter-violence. It leaves open the possibility of conversion; . . . Further, it is more likely to produce a constructive rather than a destructive outcome, it is a method of conflict resolution that may aim to arrive at the truth of a given situation (rather than mere victory for one side) and it is the only method of struggle that is consistent with the teachings of the major religions.

     Nonviolence can also be the basis for a way of life: it is consistent with a belief in the underlying unity of humankind and it is the only method of action, interpersonal or political, that does not block that path to what has often been called 'self-realization'.

     Success through nonviolent action can be achieved in three main ways. Firstly, accommodation may result when the opponent has not experienced a change of heart but has conceded some or all points in order to gain peace or to cut losses. Secondly, nonviolent coercion may result when the opponent wants to continue the struggle but cannot do so because they have lost the sources of power and means of control. Thirdly, conversion may result when the opponent has changed inwardly to the degree that they want to make the changes desired by the nonviolent activist (or indeed the nonviolent activist has changed towards the views of the opponent).

     Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African American civil rights movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. King is often presented as a heroic leader in the history of modern American liberalism.

M. L. KING’S PRINCIPLES OF NONVIOLENCE

1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.

It is active nonviolent resistance to evil.

It is assertive spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

It is always persuading the opponent of the justice of your cause.

2. Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding.

The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.

The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.

3. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.

Nonviolence holds that evildoers are also victims.

4. Nonviolence holds that voluntary suffering can educate and transform.

Nonviolence willingly accepts the consequences of its acts.

Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation.

Nonviolence accepts violence if necessary, but will never inflict it.

Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.

Suffering can have the power to convert the enemy when reason fails.

5. Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.

Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as of the body.

Nonviolent love gives willingly, knowing that the return might be hostility.

Nonviolent love is active, not passive.

Nonviolent love does not sink to the level of the hater.

Love for the enemy is how we demonstrate love for ourselves.

Love restores community and resists injustice.

Nonviolence recognizes the fact that all life is interrelated.

6. Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.

The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win.

 M. L. KING’S STEPS OF NONVIOLENCE

Step 1: Gather Information

     Learn all you can about the problems you see in your community through the media, social and civic organizations, and by talking to the people involved.

Step 2: Educate Others

     Armed with your new knowledge, it is your duty to help those around you, such as your neighbors; relatives, friends and co-workers, better understand the problems facing society. Build a team of people devoted to finding solutions. Be sure to include those who will be directly affected by your work.

Step 3: Remain Committed

     Accept that you will face many obstacles and challenges as you and your team try to change society. Agree to encourage and inspire one another along the journey.

Step 4: Peacefully Negotiate

     Talk with both sides. Go to the people in your community who are in trouble and who are deeply hurt by society’s ills. Also go to those people who are contributing to the breakdown of a peaceful society. Use humor, intelligence and grace to lead to solutions that benefit the greater good.

Step 5: Take Action Peacefully

     This step is often used when negotiation fails to produce results, or when people need to draw broader attention to a problem. It can include tactics such as peaceful demonstrations, letter writing and petition campaign.

Step 6: Reconcile

     Keep all actions and negotiations peaceful and constructive. Agree to disagree with some people and with some groups as you work to improve society. Show all involved the benefits of changing, not what they will give up by changing.

 Conclusion

     The use of violent methods of conflict resolution has become redundant over time, as they don’t address the core causes of conflict because they are only short-term interventions. This has led to a paradigm shift to non-violent methods, which are a good weapon to deal and solve conflicts world over. The many methods of non violent conflict resolutions has brought about peace and harmony the world over in places where they have been applied hence a challenge to shift to nonviolence mechanisms of conflict resolution.

(Full article on file in the UGCS Intl. Chancellor's office)