Lecture Eleven: Reconciliation And Ethics

Front 1

Reconciliation

Back 1

Reconciliation creates patterns of change that negate the old patterns of violence to "create...well-being that meets the needs of all parties"

Reconciliation is both transformative and constructive; it brings conflicting parties together, helps them to develop positive dispositions towards one another, and to reach agreements

Reconciliation requires imagination and creativity are required to reconcile the self and "other"; to reckon with chosen traumas, and to encourage coexistence.

Front 2

Forgiveness

Back 2

An approach to reconciliation that involves truth-telling, the redefinition of the identities of the perpetrators, changing the relationship between conflicting parties, and finally the changing of the emotional attachments and drives of both sides.

Forgiveness is a very difficult reconciliation technique to carry out, and in some cases it is not possible.

Front 3

Signalling

Back 3

An approach to reconciliation that is a "costly, novel, voluntary, and irrevocable concession," and results in a reduction in future conflict.

Further, signalling fits into the Rational choice model, where the "tit for tat" strategy is the one most often used in the negotiation process.

Signalling is not a lasting peace - forgiveness is a better model for lasting peace.

Front 4

Communication

(Booth, Nobles)

Back 4

An approach to reconciliation that Booth describes as "reconciliation through listening." Nobles further asserts that this approach requires communicative acts such as apologies, which in turn involve admissions of wrongdoing (recognition.Ismael asserts that spontaneity has a place in communicative approaches to reconciliation in that those in violent communities, especially perpetrators, engage in spontaneous acts of reconciliation when given the opportunity to communicate because of the genuine connection established through face-to-face communication.

Front 5

Religion

Back 5

An approach to reconciliation that focuses on what religion teaches: forgiveness, non-violence, and a duty to humanity (the categorical imperative)

Religious leaders become leaders of reconciliation within the bounds of this approach.

Front 6

Justice and Mercy

Back 6

An approach to reconciliation Partners or antagonists

Front 7

Sense of Justice

Back 7

A goal of reconciliation that results in attempts to re-balance the relationship between conflicting parties. Perpetrators become those who "owe", and parameters must be established for what action needs to be taken in order for the victims to be satisfied. The balance between vengeance and forgiveness is a big factor here.

Front 8

Personal healing and Empowerment

(Levinas, Frankl)

Back 8

A goal of reconciliation that looks at repairing physical, psychological, and emotional harms. Levinas writes that conflicts necessarily involves a loss of control over the capacity to take action; this goal, then, involves returning the capacity to take action to the conflicting parties. Frankl, while writing about the Holocaust, identifies reconciliation as a way to create meaning, and considers three psychotherapeutic approaches to creating meaning:

1. The cognitive approach deals with how the conflicting parties think about the trauma

2. The narrative approach helps conflicting parties to unpack the story of their conflict

3. The behaviour approach addresses the behaviours that have been the result of pre-existing traumas, and narratives in the context of conflict.

Front 9

New Relationships

Back 9

A goal of reconciliation that runs on a reconciliatory spectrum through the following steps: no fear of further harm --> living together --> coexistence, tolerance, and trust --> collaboration --> friendship.

Collectivities can only occur after the completion of the above continuum for broad and lasting peace.

Front 10

Structural Change

Back 10

A goal of reconciliation structural that involves the institution of: political inclusion, economic equality and non-exploitation, having basic needs for living met, and having a geographically intermixed population.

Front 11

Transcendence

Back 11

A goal of Reconciliation that builds focus in the reconciliation process on understanding the perspectives of the both the victims and the perpetrators (emotional intelligence).

The goal here is to rise above the conflict and build positive, progressive relationships.

This goal has definite spiritual undertones and might go where with a spiritual approach to reconciliation.

Front 12

Iterative Process

Back 12

Reconciliation is an iterative process that involves progress, regress, and reassessment in the process of attempting to change situations of marginalization and oppression.

Front 13

Pre-Requisites for Reconciliation

Back 13

- The outcome is desirable and attainable

- There is a vision and a mandate

- There are sufficient resources to carry out the reconciliation

- The reconciling parties will be free from threat

Front 14

Discursive and Symbolic Processes for Reconciliation

Back 14

- Symbolic and ritual processes: meetings, visits, and gestures

- Using the instrumental approach which identifies goals and subsequently builds common ground

- Using a socio-emotional approach to manage the historical and emotional aspects of the conflict

*Both victims and perpetrators must be involved in the reconciliation processes

*Truths, both empirical (factual) and hermeneutical (experience or interpretation-based) need to be heard

*Dialogue

*Acknowledgement and empathy

- transformation

- remorse, apologies, and amends

- reframing

- further associations

Front 15

Meta-requisites for Reconciliation

(Charles E. Osgood)

Back 15

- GRIT (Gradual Reciprocated Initiatives in tension-reduction)

*Reciprocal actions and acknowledgment

- New institutions

- Process skills and leaders are inclusive and reconciliatory

- Community reconciliation

Front 16

Lao Tse

Back 16

Avoid war to achieve goals

Front 17

Sun Tzu

Back 17

Treat prisoner's of war properly

Front 18

Manusmriti (scholar)

Back 18

Weapons used in conflicts should be restricted to reduce suffering. Unarmed and innocent people should not be attacked.

Front 19

Aristotle - Just War

Back 19

War is justified in: self-defence, defence of allies, and for advantage or gain.

War is a means to peace.

Front 20

Cicero

Back 20

War must only be waged within the following conditions:

-a declaration of war is made by the proper authority,

-reparations are demanded before war is waged,

-antagonists are given the opportunity to settle

- war is the last resort

- only official armed force members join the fighting/are fought

- those who surrender are protected

Contravention is a ware crime

Front 21

Augustine

Back 21

-War must be declared by right authority

-Peace should be sought

-Rulers should be held accountable for war, not soldiers

-Compassion should be shown to those who are captured, or conquered

Front 22

Gratian - Decretum Gralcani

Back 22

Establishes canon law (the principles of just war are standardized)

Front 23

Aquinas

Back 23

Jus ad bellum: proper authority, just cause, right intention

Assist the vulnerable

Front 24

Victoria

Back 24

The colonization and attacking of indigenous peoples is unjust

Self-defence is an acceptable cause for war

War decisions should be made by experts through assessing the merit of a war outside of personal gain

Front 25

Grotius

Back 25

Looked to regulate wars: one of the first thinkers on international law.

-Volitional law: domestic, national, and regional

Also held value by pacts and related obligations for regulation of the international system/war.

Front 26

Jus ad Bellum

Back 26

Rules for Declaring war:

1. Just Cause

2. Responsibility to protect

3. Proportionality

4. Reasonable chance of success

5. Legitimate Authority is declarer of war

6. Wat is the last resort

7. Right intention for the war

8. Just fight

Front 27

Jus in Bello

Back 27

Rules for Conflict:

- Geneva Conventions

- Combatants and non-combatants should be distinguished from one another

- Refugees should be protected

- Collateral damage should be minimized

Front 28

Just post Bellum

Back 28

Rules for After War:

1. Crimes against peace that may have caused the war should be identified

2. Crimes against humanity that caused harms should be identified

3. Reparations should be made

4. Apologies should be made

5. Environmental damages should be managed

Front 29

Jus Potentia Ad Bellum

Back 29

Rules for when one is potentially going to war:

1. Justice in preparing for war (prevention)

2. Appropriate armaments

3. Appropriate "types" of soldiers

4. Budget for war should be decided upon

5. Potential environmental damages should be considered

6. Technology to be used (drones, etc.) should be considered.