PROJECTING PEACE
A Series of Research Seminars and Events

Compiled by
Prof. David Webb
(Applied Global Ethics, Leeds Metropolitan University)

Civil Resistance

Michael Randle
School of Peace Studies, University of Bradford

Wednesday 2nd November 2011
4pm

Portland Building 212
Leeds Metropolitan University
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In his book on “Civil Resistance”, Michael Randle proposed that "Governments need people more than people need governments." Strikes, boycotts, go-slows, human barricades, sit-ins and occupations are just some of the methods available to people to assert their rights and/or undermine and overthrow arbitrary government. Michael Randle presents a broad examination of the philosophy of civil resistance including its contribution to the collapse of Communist rule in East and Central Europe.

'Unarmed Peacekeeping: an alternative to military intervention?

Time Wallis
International Executive Director, Nonviolent Peaceforce
http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/

Thursday 10 November 2011
3pm

Northern Terrace G14
Leeds Metropolitan University
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Tim Wallis works from Brussels as Executive Director of Nonviolent Peaceforce which was established to promote, develop and implement unarmed civilian peacekeeping as a tool for reducing violence and protecting civilians in situations of violent conflict. He will talk about Nonviolent Peaceforce's current programmes in the Philippines, South Sudan and Sri Lanka and unarmed civilian peacekeeping, the innovative methodology used in each programme.

Climate Tipping Points and Political Action

Stefan Skrimshire
Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied,
University of Leeds

Wednesday 16th November 2011
4pm

Portland Building 212
Leeds Metropolitan University
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Between 2007-2010 Stefan led a research project on responses to  climate change, with a particular focus on the significance of tipping points, ‘apocalyptic rhetoric’ and time horizons for action. Outcomes of the project included a series of workshops on climate ethics; publication of an edited collection, “Future Ethics”; and production of an educational documentary film, “Beyond the Tipping Point”.

Histories of Violence

Brad Evans
School of Politics and International Studies,
University of Leeds

Wednesday 23rd November 2011
4pm

Portland Building 212
Leeds Metropolitan University
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Created to mark the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Histories of Violence is a multi-media forum dedicated to exploring the theoretical, empirical and aesthetic dimensions to violence. The web site features videos of key-note lectures by recognised authorities on key critical thinkers on violence, as well as video lectures contributed by Simon Critchley, Noam Chomsky, Zygmunt Bauman, Saskia Sassen, Michael Hardt, Ted Honderich, Cynthia Weber, Brian Massumi, Samuel Weber, Mary Kaldor, Michael Dillon and Brad Evans for the symposia Ten Years of Terror. An edited film drawn from the Ten Years of Terror Symposia will be screened at and followed by Q&A sessions with Brad Evans.

What peace isn't, or why the term "perpetual peace" is almost a pleonasm

Diane Morgan
University of Leeds

Wednesday 7th December 2011
4pm

Portland Building 212
Leeds Metropolitan University
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Immanuel Kant has been described as "the first thinker and to date the only great thinker to have elevated the concept of peace to a foundational concept of philosophy" (Höffe 2006). In his most extensive analysis of the subject, the "Perpetual Peace" essay, he focuses on why "peace" has, in effect, all too often amounted to a truce, to a merely temporary respite from warfare. He also analyses the various- political, social, economic and technological- forms of “secret reservation” which have up to now rendered the conditions for peace perpetuating itself impossible.

I would like to explore these ideas of Kant in relation to our current situation, especially in the light of recent developments in global “cosmopolitan governance”