Just War Theory vs. Just Peace Theory

Wow, I just finished listening to President Obama's acceptance speech of the Nobel Peace Prize.  I have to admit, I'm familiar with "Just War Theory" but I was not aware of "Just Peace theory."  

It takes into account that we live in a world where evil exist, the Golden Rule must guide and recognizes that "The non-violence practiced by men like Gandhi and King may not have been practical or possible in every circumstance, but the love that they preached — their fundamental faith in human progress — that must always be the North Star that guides us on our journey."

Anyone out there familiar with the basic tenets of "Just Peace Theory?

(Here's a full transcript of the speech and here's a link to the video)

Comments

[Solissea]

The broad categories of Just Peace Theory are truth, respect, and security.

There are ten specific steps:
1) support nonviolent direct action;
2)take independent initiatives to reduce threats;
3)use cooperative conflict resolution;
4)acknowledge responsibility for conflict and injustice and seek repentance and forgiveness;
5)advance democracy, human rights, and interdependence;
6)foster just and sustainable economic development;
7)work with emerging cooperative forces in the international system;
8)strengthen the United Nations and international efforts for cooperation and human rights;
9)reduce offensive weapons and weapons trade; and
10)encourage grassroots peacemaking groups.

May they be more than eloquent words or lovely ideals - may we all do our part to work toward peace!

[Jim Mullins]

Glen Stassen is one of the main thinkers behind "Just Peace". I believer he is a professor at Fuller. He has a good book called "Just Peacemaking" where the ten steps are outlined. I would highly recommend it. I think the best thing about the theory is that it brings Romans 12 (be at peace will all, over come evil with good, etc.) and Romans 13 (he doesn't bear the sword in vain) together. I always like to say, "When Romans 12 and Romans 13 get divorced, they tend to create messed up children."

The "Just Peacemaking" philosophy challenges the pacifist by calling them to tangible non-violent action, not just protest. It challenges the "Just War" thinkers by saying, "If war is truly a last resort, then you must define the first resort, the second resort, etc with real non-violent actions."

After moving back from the Middle East, I'm actually in the process of starting an organization based on "Just Peacemaking" called Peace Catalyst International. Here is a short explanation: http://mouthofthedonkey.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/peace-catalyst-international-short-summary/

[london]

War vs peace and Obama vs Bush.

[Doug Groothuis]

Stassen is utopian, particularly the bit about the UN, which is a lost cause. The "peace keepers" in Liberia, for example, routinely rape and spread AIDS. One could go on. Rogue states get votes and anti-Jewish Arab countries rail against that little democracy while they turn their backs on Islamic terrorism.

[Bill Samuel]

What President Obama was articulating is not Just Peace Theory as it is normally described. It is not even classical Just War Theory since he is justifying a war that doesn't meet any of the classical Just War Theory criteria. Just Peace Theory is normally considered to be inbetween Just War Theory and pacifism.

Practically, the distinctions between them may be meaningless in decision about wars today. Pope Benedict, before being elevated to Pope, stated that he could not conceive of there being a war today that would meet Just War criteria, and he has suggested that the theory should be reconsidered. Just Peace Theory might be that reconsideration, with its emphasis on what should be done while Just War Theory tends to be just about deciding whether a war can be considered Just.

Just Peace Theory starts with nonviolent direct action, and I don't know of a single nation today that prepares for nonviolent direct action. However, there have been dozens of successful mass movements in recent decades which have been based on nonviolent direct action. The "fall of communism" was largely the result of nonviolent direct action, and a number of governmental regimes have fallen due to nonviolent direct action.

If President Obama understood and favored Just Peace Theory, he would be ending the wars, dismantling the military structure, and developing mass nonviolent action capability. I wish we could really get to him about that, but it is difficult given that he appointed what has been called a "nest of hawks" to key national security and foreign policy positions, and not a single person who is peace-oriented.

I wish we could get President Obama to read the history of nonviolent direct action, which among other things was the only really successful method used to save Jews from the Holocaust. I think he honestly believes what he said in his speech, because this is all he hears. It's not true, but it is what is taught in schools and what the mainstream foreign policy and national security establishment believes. I note also that he grew up on the island of Oahu more than anywhere else. That is a highly militarize island, and glorification of war is even more in the air there than elsewhere.