In Factis Pax: Journal of Peace Education and Social Justice

Book Review: The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Religion and Peace

Zachary Dehm — 2024-10-14

Book Review of Jolyon Mitchell, Suzanna R. Millar, Francesca Po, and Martyn Percy, eds., The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Religion and Peace, The Wiley Blackwell Companions to Religion series, Wiley Blackwell, 2022, 656 pp., €152.60 (Hardcover), ISBN: 978-1-119-42434-5.

Interview with Dr. Betty Reardon on the Theme of Peace Education

Armene Modi — 2024-10-17

The article, an interview with Dr. Betty Reardon on the theme of Peace Education, was conducted shortly after the 2000 International Institute of Peace Education (IIPE) in Pune, India, concluded in July of that year. Dr. Reardon’s message however, seems as relevant today as it was when recorded a quarter century ago.

It Peaces! On the Linguistic Significance of Peacing as Activity

Wolfgang Dietrich — 2024-10-16

This essay asks for the impact of grammar as enframing for the perception, interpretation and praxis of peace. It reflects the urge for a subject in all grammars of European origin since antiquity and discusses the colonizing consequences of the metaphysical peace as a singular in its transcendental context. This noun contrasts with action- and proceeding-oriented understandings of peace in many non-European languages. Such post-modern insight called the academic discipline of peace studies decades ago for the understanding of peaces as plural. This essay goes one step further and proposes to peace as a verb also for European grammars. It asks for the possibly de-colonizing and enlightening consequences of such an immanent notion in the still transcendental modern context.

Affirmative Action in the Educational Sector: A Discriminative Practice or for Promoting Peaceful Living?

Colins Imoh — 2024-10-14

The article discusses the admission process for Unity schools in Nigeria, which uses affirmative action to ensure the representation of students from all regions of the country. The policy promotes fairness, equity, and justice in education by compensating disadvantaged groups without equal access to opportunities, rights, and ‘social bases of self-respect’. Affirmative action removes obstacles that prevent individuals from pursuing their goals and ensures that all parts of the country are represented. They might not be the most intelligent students, but they are the best in their region. The evidence shows that affirmative action is not discriminatory but relatively justifiable as a temporary measure to reduce the educational imbalance between the northern and southern parts of the country. With limited school spaces and numerous applicants, the admission policy prioritizes diversity, equity, and unity. Without this policy, the schools would be dominated by students from the south of Nigeria, which could lead to conflict and a lack of positive peace. Educational achievement discrepancies, such as disparities in access to quality education, resources, and opportunities, have the potential to breed distrust and conflict within communities.

Cutting-Edge Dynamics of Drone Technologies: Military Strategies and Peaceful Innovations

Erika Simpson — 2024-10-16

This article examines recent evidence and expert opinions on the pros and cons of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones. It analyzes the nuanced advantages and disadvantages of utilizing drones for both peaceful and military purposes. Rather than advocating for a blanket ban on drones due to their potential use in targeting individuals, such as al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan or Russian soldiers in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the article adopts a comprehensive approach by engaging with contemporary literature that assesses the complex implications of drone technology.

The analysis highlights the potential benefits of drones in peaceful applications, including enhanced surveillance capabilities and their role in humanitarian efforts like disaster response and environmental monitoring. It also addresses significant ethical, legal, and operational concerns related to military use, such as accountability, the risk of civilian casualties, and the implications for international military power dynamics.

Based on this assessment, the article presents specific recommendations for the international community and regional groups, emphasizing the establishment of regulatory frameworks that promote responsible drone use, prioritize transparency and accountability, and ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, thereby fostering international dialogue and cooperation.

Protecting Students? Rhetoric vs. Reality and Recommendations for Peace Educators in the United States

Laura Finley — 2024-10-14

Republican legislators have for years said they are enacting measures to protect kids in schools. Laws have been passed around the country to limit the types of books young people have access to in schools, the curricula that they are taught, who can access school-based sporting opportunities, and even where students can use restrooms. Although attacks on educators and the public school system are not new, these recent moves are allegedly necessary to counter the supposed “wokeness” of public schools and universities today.

In reality, much of the Republican party is actively opposing measures that actually protect kids. For example, many Republican politicians have opposed universal school lunch, an important measure to help feed poor kids. Republican leaders’ support for expanding Medicaid expansions to over poor children is weak, at best. Most Republican politicians actively oppose measures to restrict guns, even those specifically designed to keep guns out of the hands of children. This is despite polls that show a majority of Republic voters join Democrat voters in supporting sensible gun control.

This paper begins with a discussion of several of the supposed “protection” measures Republican politicians have pushed in recent years. It then discusses efforts that might actually protect students but that Republican politicians have opposed. The paper concludes with implications and recommendations for peace educators.