Pragmatic, Principled, Reformist and Revolutionary

From Peacebuilding

Contents 1 Purpose 2 Time 3 Participants 4 Materials 5 Process 6 Note 7 Source

Purpose

• To describe different approaches to nonviolence using Robert Burrowes’ framework;
• To explore participants beliefs concerning different approaches to nonviolence.

Time

30 minutes

Participants

Any number

Materials

• A flip chart page prepared in advance by the facilitator with the Burrowes’ matrix, or an overhead or PP slide (see below);
• Flip chart pages;
• Markers;

Example: The Burrowes' Matrix:

--------------------------

Process

I) Draw the vertical axis of the matrix on a flip chart page. Ask the group to reflect on the following statements on nonviolence:

• "I use nonviolence because it works. This does not imply I will always refrain from the use of violence. Under the current circumstances I am willing to use strategic nonviolence for a particular purpose."

• "I use nonviolence because I believe in the humanity of all women and men. I believe that means are more important than the ends and that the means we use determine the ends. Thus, we cannot build a just and peaceful society through the use of violence."

II) Ask people to discuss these two statements. During the discussion write the word “pragmatic” at the lower end of the vertical axis and “principled” at the upper end. Help participants focus discussion on these two words and on how the statements define the two approaches. Expand. Ask participants to generate examples of pragmatic and principled nonviolence.

III) Draw the horizontal axis on the flip chart page. Ask the group to reflect on the following two statements:

• "I believe that change happens one step at a time and you can’t turn upside-down the whole system for that. I also believe that change happens within the system, thus you need to work with it in order to change it."

• "You need to get rid of an unjust, corrupt and violent system. You can’t change a system of oppression and let it become a just system. You need to take it out and substitute it with a new system."

IV) Repeat the procedure at step II, introducing the concepts of “reformist” and “revolutionary” nonviolence.

V) Now make some examples using the matrix, as shown in the note above. Invite participants to make examples and to position these on the matrix.

VI) Discuss.

Note

You can use the following definitions to facilitate your discussion:

"Practitioners of pragmatic nonviolence believe it to be the most effective method available in the circumstances. They view conflict as a relationship between antagonists with incompatible interests: their goal is to defeat the opponent and, if this entails any suffering (short of physical injury), to inflict that suffering on the opponent."

"Practitioners of principled nonviolence choose it for ethical reasons and believe in the unity of means and end. They view the opponent as a partner in the struggle to satisfy the needs of all; if anyone suffers, it is the practitioners of nonviolence. More fundamentally, this practitioner may view nonviolence as a way of life."

"Practitioners of reformist nonviolence are guided by an analysis that identifies particular elite policies as the cause of social problems. They use short to medium-term campaigns to change these policies within the existing social framework; their aim is reform."

"Practitioners of revolutionary nonviolence are guided by a structural analysis of political and economic relationships and believe that there is a need for fundamental structural change; particular campaigns (which may have a short- to medium-term time-frame) are thus conducted within the context of a long-term revolutionary strategy."

Source

This theory is presented in Burrowes, Robert J., The Strategy of Nonviolence Defense: A Gandhian Approach, Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1996. A summary and review of the book is at http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/pubs/97BRgm.html The activity has been adapted from “Trainers’ Resource Manual”, Nonviolence Training Project (Pt’chang Nonviolent Community Safety Group Inc), 2005, http://www.nonviolence.org.au/manual.html The four definitions in the final note are at pp. 76-77 of this manual.