How to Teach Students to Assess Political Candidates’ Potential to Be Peace and Justice Leaders

A Case Study of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis of Gavin Newsom

Abstract

Those interested in creating a more peaceful and just world want to vote for elected officials who will serve these aims best. As peace educators, we can and should help students make informed choices about the candidates who are best suited to achieve this. This is extremely important for the 2028 election, as the United States is engaged in several wars and violent conflicts, and human rights and social justice domestically are under attack. This article describes a strategy that peace educators can use to help students assess political candidates’ potential to be peace and justice leaders. It offers a case study, conducted with a class of upper-level undergraduate sociology majors, of a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis focused on California Governor Gavin Newsom as a peace and justice candidate for the Democrats in 2028