Before You Begin

Peacebuilding has deep roots in four intertwined histories, each with their own worldviews on how to build peace. Recognizing which have shaped you and in what way will be the foundation of how you build peace in the world.

You'll learn:

• Trace peacebuilding's four historical traditions: peace activism, peace theory, peace in international systems, and the often-overlooked decolonial and nonviolent tradition
• Identify which tradition most inspired and shaped your own views on how to build peace

Key takeaways:

• Peacebuilding has 4 intertwined histories, each carrying different assumptions about what peace requires
• The traditions that inspire you most inform how you build peace in the world, specifically what paths you take and how you engage with traditional peacebuilding systems (or not!)

Your workbook activity: Turn to Module 1, Lesson 1. Rate how strongly each of the four traditions inform your beliefs on peace and to what degree they show up in the peace efforts you are involved in, then reflect on what that reveals about your experience with peace efforts you have been involved in and how it might inform your path moving forward.

Additional Resources

• 11 Historic Peace Organizations Still Active Today - several groups named in this lesson (WILPF, IPB, AFSC) are profiled in more depth here, alongside other historic peace organizations still working today – in the peace activist tradition.