Peace and Democratic SocietyRecent acts of terrorism and the pro-democracy unrest in the Middle East remind us how important it is to understand the relationship between violence, peace and democracy. In a challenging and insightful essay, Amartya Sen explores ideas around "organised violence" (war, genocide and terrorism) and violence against the individual. Highlighting the inadequacies of some of the widely accepted explanations for violence - including the idea that the world is experiencing a "clash of civilisations" - Sen makes a plea for a global, multilateral debate on the causes of conflict, and an understanding of the multiple identities of the individuals involved. The introductory essay draws on the findings of the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding, which was established to promote mutual communication and understanding among all faiths and communities in the Commonwealth. Its timely report, "Civil Paths to Peace," suggests that governments, media and educators - indeed, everyone - must take the time to understand the complexities around violent behaviour and its causes, without prejudging what these might be. |
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addressing Adrienne Clarkson affiliations Afghanistan Africa Alliance of Civilizations Amartya Amartya Sen Appiah Calcutta civil paths civil society civilisations clash Commission on Respect Commonwealth approach Commonwealth Commission Commonwealth countries Commonwealth Secretary-General concerns context crime cultivated cultural democracy democratic dialogue discussion disrespect diverse divisions economic effects election engagement ethnic example feel gender global violence grievance group violence human development human rights human security humiliation Hutu identity important inequality initiatives injustice institutional intervention involved issues John Alderdice Kamal Hossain Kolkata Kwame Anthony Appiah leaders linked lives Lucy Turnbull military multilateral approach multilateralist Muslims Nadine Gordimer narratives Northern Ireland one’s organizations particularly paths to peace perspective political participation positive potential poverty powerful problems programmes promote relevance religion respect and understanding role sense shared social terrorism terrorist Tutsis UNIFEM United Nations War on Terror women young Youth