Peacebuilding &conflict transformation A ... - Peaceworkafrica

The first large international human rights movement was to end slavery in Europeand North America — the Abolition movements. The first action towards endingslavery was initiated in 1542 by Spain, the last activity contributing to the abolitionmovement was the 13th amendment of the US constitution in 1865. For the first time,secular oriented and spiritual motivated activists like H.D. Thoreau (1817–1862) andvarious organizations were pulling together (through actions such as hiding slaves,boycotting taxes…) to achieve a common goal.The French Revolution (18th–19th centuries: rise of a new socio‐political force — thebourgeois middle class between the clergy, nobility, artisans and peasants) and theUS American liberation struggle (1860s) were most of the time fought violently.Nonetheless, they are called archetypes of modern nonviolent struggle for justice asthe unarmed efforts were applied after the violent fights to control power or influencedecisions (through persuasion, public pressure and denial of cooperation).Parts of the legal systems we enjoy today are based on these achievements, such ashuman rights standards or environmental laws.The solidarity movement with the Congolese population which was oppressed byKing Leopold II of Belgium, is an example of how issues of colonialism were foughtby non‐violent methods: Protests in the Congo were coordinated and linked withsupporters in various European and North American countries to protest against theextreme effects of colonialism (end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century).Shortly after WWI, the networks and peace organizations War Resister International(WRI) and the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) were founded. They referred tononviolence as a principle alongside peace and reconciliation.The experience of fascism during WWII made researchers and activists suspiciousof charismatic leadership as a source of influence for nonviolence. They searched forrealistic solutions towards the question ‘how can citizens develop effective politicalpower beyond constitutional means in order to confront injustice?’ Gandhi’s workand principles applied, for example, in the struggle for an independent India, providedmany scientists with ideas of empowering citizens and their associations: citizensmay hand over their power to their leaders, but they can withdraw this powerfrom them again. According to history it’s possible to stand up even against totalitarianregimes. The ‘Power of nonviolence’ and ‘active nonviolence’ became key wordsfor forms of action based on the ideas of Gandhi’s satyagraha.The contemporary history of Africa is full of heroic instances of nonviolent strugglesby individuals, nations, sub‐national groups and grass‐root social movements.They have affected fundamental social and political changes during pre‐colonial,194 V I . N O N V I O L E N C E