Introduction to Peace and Culture

13 Oct 2010

Ursula Oswald Spring

Introduction Historical legacy and geopolitical context

in Latin America Peace Research in Latin America Human, Gender and Environmental Security Conclusion/final thoughts Questions for discussion

Period Event Characteristics 1492 - 1800

European Colonization

Imposition of colonial order with the participation of the catholic church. Exploitation, forced labor, slavery, extermination of native population and culture. “The Columbian Exchange”.

1804 - 1825

Independence Movements

Aimed at guaranteeing national self-control by the Creole and mestizo elites. Control of natural and cultural resources by a selected group. Extreme inequalities and poverty emerge in the second half of the century.

1910 Mexican Revolution

First indigenous and peasant movement. Defied landlords and transnational capital.

1941 - 1991

The Cold War

Latin America as an ideological battleground. Launching of OAS to stop the spread of communism.

Period Event Characteristics

1950 Guerrilla Movements

Anti-imperialist Marxist-Leninist armed groups which claim to represent the struggle of the peasantry and the poor against the wealthiest classes and foreign dominance.

1958 Cuban Revolution

Revolution won by the people. Similar revolutions and independence movements took place in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

1960’s – present

Dependency Theory

Poor nations provide natural resources and raw material to developed ones. Rich nations perpetuate a state of dependency by various means: politics, banking, media control, economic (alliances between local elites and multinational corporations).

1970’s Liberation Theology

Radical priests and spokespersons aligned with the dispossessed rather than with the elites. The movement was brutally repressed by authoritarian regimes.

Period Event Characteristics

1970’s /1990’s onwards

Globalization Process

Structural adjustment policies IMF, World Bank have generally worsened the living condition of the masses. Indigenous groups have remained excluded politically, economically and socially. Global issues affecting the continent such as global warming, environmental destruction, global north-south relations. Security perspective moving from a military perspective to societal, economic, humanitarian, environmental and gender perspective.

1990’s Indigenous and other Social Movements

Indigenous, peasants, workers and diverse popular movements demanding territorial sovereignty, respect for cultural traditions and use of natural resources in their lands.

It is closely linked to global and local conflicts.

OPENING OF THE PUBLIC’S EYES THROUGH: Worker movements/ trade unionists Bourgeois and socialist peace movements (late 19th

century) Hague Conference 1899 Red Cross Constitution Works: A Study of War (Quincy Wright)… Journal of Conflict Resolution (1957), analyzing the WWI

and WWII and the Cold War. 1959: Foundation of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo

(Johan Galtung) 1964: IPRA- International Peace Research Association ……..

In 1977, the International Congress of the IPRA was held in Mexico.

This developed into the creation of the CLAIP (Latin American Council of Peace Research)

CLAIP activities are linked to ongoing democratization movements, international Human Rights violations, massacres and disappearances of social and political leaders…

CLAIP links universities, social movements and democratization processes within the governments.◦ The positive experience stimulated the

establishment of the Asian-Pacific Peace Research Association (1980) and the African Peace Research Association.

◦ At the same time, this enriches the CLAIP.

Emphasizes on the indigenous communities: values of education, prevention, social harmony and resistance.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/DRIPS_en.pdf

Both the IPRA and the CLAIP adopt to changing conflict scenarios (ex: globalization processes as a threat to peace).

However, they need to resume their efforts to find concrete answers to these new challenges.

This scenarios claim intense social mobilization, as well as responses from the educative system and the media.

Synergies and cooperation is required in order to fight foreign interests.

HUGE

Gender incorporates all vulnerable and excluded profiles, trying to give them visibility a voice and direct empowerment.

Gender includes◦ Disabled people - Sexual Minorities◦ Children - Indigenous groups◦ Elders -Minority Religious Groups◦ Men living in poverty without decision making

capabilities.

Gender security should be linked to human and environmental Security.

Human Security is the protection from the threat of disease, hunger, unemployment, crime, social conflict, political repression and environmental hazards. (UNDP)

There have been calls to designate Human Security as a descriptor for a new foreign policy and world view as an alternative to arms race and military confrontation.(CANADA)

Respect for human rights International humanitarian lawsRefugee protection acts

Promotion of humanitarian aid Development based on gender and social equity

Cultural diversity with religious freedom.

Threats to the environment are related to - Soil and water (degradation and scarcity)- Air (pollution , climate change Ozone layer

depletion)- Population growth- Urban factor ( Urbanization, anthropogenic

pollution and contamination)- Rural factors (agriculture, food, fibre)

It combines gender in a broad sense with the conceptual and political debates on environment and human security

Offers gender security guarantees. Equity and identity being the values at risk, and patriarchal orders being the source of threat.

It links social equality, environmental Sustainability, cultural diversity and gender equity.

Historical legacy and geopolitical context in Latin America

European Colonization, Independence Movements, Mexican Revolution , The Cold War, Guerrilla Movements , Cuban Revolution, Dependency Theory, Liberation Theology, Globalization Process, Indigenous and other Social Movements

Peace Research in Latin America International Congress of the for International Peace Research Association

Latin American Council of Peace Research

Human Gender and Environmental Security as a Transradical Process

12th Oct 1492 Colombus day!Día de la Raza/Hispanidad

What are challenges faced by peace researchers, educators and actors?

How can sustainable HUman Gender Environmental security be achieved?

Can Military ideologies be replaced by attitudes such as - Respect for human rights - International humanitarian laws Refugee protection acts

- Promotion of humanitarian aid - Development based on gender and social equity- Cultural diversity with religious freedom.