Towards A People's Peace – A Global Webinar Series on Violence, Nonviolence, and Just Futures
The "Towards a People’s Peace" webinar series invites activists, scholars, policymakers, and the public to explore the complex dynamics of violence, nonviolence, and the pathways to building just and peaceful societies. This six-part series will delve into the roles of social movements in addressing state and non-state violence, fostering global peace, and amplifying justice.
Violence and nonviolence are at the heart of societal change. Social movements worldwide navigate this complex terrain, employing strategies from peaceful protests to armed resistance. This six-part webinar series aims to examine the ethical, practical, and strategic dimensions of violence and nonviolence, empowering activists, policymakers, scholars, and citizens to foster more just and peaceful societies.
Each webinar will delve into a critical aspect of violence—its origins, forms, and consequences—and explore how social movements can challenge and transform systems of oppression.
WEBINAR I
WEBINAR I Speaking of Violence: Mapping the Terrain
Date: 29 January 2025
We introduce the series with a first webinar exploring different categories of collective violence and examining the roots and manifestations of this. We will also explore how these are understood and experienced by social movements.
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/speaking-of-violence-mapping-the-terrain-tickets-1203127319199?aff=oddtdtcreator
WEBINAR II
WEBINAR II In Another’s Land: War and Militarization
Date: 5 February 2025
In this webinar, we will explore the historical and contemporary dynamics of war, militarization, and external aggression in global geopolitics, focusing on how power struggles continue to impact world peace. The global arms trade will be a focus to understand the nexus of wealth accumulation and state power.
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-anothers-land-war-and-militarization-tickets-1203146316019?aff=oddtdtcreator
WEBINAR III
WEBINAR III The Violent State: Dealing with Repression
Date: 19 February 2025
In this webinar we will explore the nature and mechanisms of state violence and the role of social movements in confronting it, discussing how movements can be supported in the efforts to combat state oppression.
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-violent-state-dealing-with-repression-tickets-1203161561619?aff=oddtdtcreator
WEBINAR IV
WEBINAR IV Uncivil Society: Ending Violence in People vs. People Conflicts
Date: 5 March 2025
Often called the dark mirror to civil society, uncivil society refers to elements within the social fabric that undermine social harmony and subvert democratic principles. In this webinar we will explore civil conflict and majoritarianism and how movements form and work in such realities.
Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/uncivil-society-ending-violence-in-people-vs-people-conflicts-tickets-1203268250729?aff=oddtdtcreator
WEBINAR V
WEBINAR V The Peaceful Play of People’s Power: Violence, Nonviolence, and Social Change
Date: 19 March 2025
There are many contexts when violence can be just justified in the course of social movements, just as individual self-defence is justifiable in the case of assault. However we need to be wary of the dangers of escalation, the cycles of retaliation and unforeseen repercussions to its use. Violence is often detrimental to the success of a movement, leading to shrinkage in popular participation in struggles among other things. In this webinar we will explore effectiveness of strategic non-violent resistance, and civilian based defence structures for social movements.
Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-peaceful-play-of-peoples-power-violence-nonviolence-social-change-tickets-1203305191219?aff=oddtdtcreator
WEBINAR VI
WEBINAR VI Towards a People’s Peace: Pathways to a Just and Nonviolent World
Date: 9 April 2025
Location: Global People Power Conference, Copenhagen
We conclude the series by bringing the various threads together in order to map out the contours of a contemporary global peace movement; promising approaches an how people’s movements can be supported to create just and inclusive peace.
