Peace Quartet
Conflict Transformation and a Paedagogy of Peacemaking
In the course of a few hours Lee McKenna managed to take us organically and productively on an experiential learning rollercoaster of mindsets (comfort, discomfort, alertness), topics (project management, oppression, nonviolent action, power, religion, race, gender), exercises (meditation, “Sheets to the wind”, “Water game”, “Fish Bowl”, “Chairs of Power”) and invaluable personal stories from her work in the field.
A few points that spoke the most to me the most are:
1. When looking for allies, follow people’s passion, not money.
Some of the best work in the field is done by people relying on little or no financial resources. Look for those that are committed, not the opportunists. Seek out the people that are in the work for the long run. Some individuals may be young, marginal or unprepared, but have the vision and passion.
2. The three dimensions of Power:
a) Power over (oppressive)
b) Power with (collaborative, shared) i.e. women’s liberation is wrapped up in men’s
c) Power within (inalienable)
3. Breaking out of the Cycles of Oppression (Paulo Freire)
Conscientization - Normalization - Conformity - Escalating Oppression - Problematization - Action for Change
References:
Jackson Katz - Violence against women - it's a men's issue
- Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity
Dale Spender - Man Made Language
