Strategy and Tactics

The idea of a Global Movement for a Culture of Peace dates back to the involvement of Latin Americans with UNESCO in the early 1990s. They conceived that the culture of peace has the characteristics of a universal movement under construction, a utopia that is both viable and necessary. It is expressed well by one of the group, Francisco Lacayo, in the chapter entitled "Towards a Global Culture of Peace Movement" in the 1996 article that we wrote on the El Salvador National Programme. In particular, he compares it to the global ecological movement with "sources, advances, retreats, correlations of forces and social actors." He discusses the importance of stages of development of the movement, indicators for measurement of its progress, institutionalized forms, training and international exchange of peace promoters and internalization in the daily life of people.

The strategy and tactics of the Global Movement, as expressed in the Programme of Action, adopted by the UN in 1999, emphasized partnerships and sharing of information:

Partnerships between and among the various actors [UN, UNESCO, Member States, and Civil Society] as set out in the Declaration should be encouraged and strengthened for a global movement for a culture of peace. A culture of peace could be promoted through sharing of information among actors on their initiatives in this regard.

As mentioned in the section on the UN Decade, the Youth Advocacy Team is working on strategy for the second half of the Decade. And as mentioned in the section on News of the Movement we need to find ways for participants in the Movement to be inspired by realizing what others are doing around the world.

In developing strategy and tactics, we should pay close attention to the eight programme areas for a culture of peace. They should be seen as not only the goal toward which the Movement is oriented, but also the internal structure and functioning of the Movement along the way. If sections of the Movement begin to betray its basic principles, it may lose the confidence of the people who are indispensible for its success.

The Movement needs to promote at all times the economic and social justice among its own adherents and its own constituencies. Recognizing the special role of women in a culture of peace, it should promote women's involvement and leadership. Transparency and sharing of information should be seen not only as a useful tactic, but as a general and fundamental principle. Similarly, the Movement should constantly be educating, formally, non-formally and informally.

The basic principle of understanding, tolerance and solidarity should apply within the Movement in such a way that there is universal respect of all organizations, individuals and approaches. This corresponds to the characterization of the culture of peace when first adopted by UNESCO in 1992 :

The guiding principle would be that each person has something to learn from everyone else, and has something to give in return.

It should be evident that non-violence should always be a basic principle of the Global Movement, not passivity, but the active non-violence of Gandhi and King who insisted that it was better to be violent than passive, but that it should always be possible to find a method of active non-violence that was more effective than violence.

Finally, there is democratic participation, which may be the most important principle. The Movement needs to be "political" in the sense that it should avoid sectarianism, isolation, or any "holier than thou" attitude, and continually seek to engage the participation of all of the people. This is particularly important for non-governmental organizations, who do well to align themselves with local and provincial elected government in alliances such as city and provincial peace commissions.

The principles of the culture of peace can help keep the Movement true to its potential of developing the consciousness of people, which, in the view of history that I prefer, is ultimately determinant.

Issues

Index

News about Culture of Peace

Historical Perspective

Seville Statement on Violence

National Programmes for a Culture of Peace

Definition of Culture of Peace

UN Declaration and Programme of Action

International Year and Manifesto 2000

Decade and Midterm Report

Main Actors for a Culture of Peace

Role of Mass Media