The Foundations of Radical Nonviolence course examines the theory and practice of radical nonviolence. The course has a cultural and systemic lens, covering a broad range of disciplines including philosophy, religion, art, history, and science, as well as modern day practitioners in order to examine nonviolence as a powerful social force. Students will meet many guests who are practitioners and activists, exploring war and its effects on humans and the planet, strategic nonviolent conflict, prison abolition, civil disobedience, forgiveness, restorative justice, and nonviolent history. Creativity and independent research are highly encouraged in this course, and there is a heavy focus on connecting theory and practice. Meets the Critical Perspectives: Social Inequality requirement. Meets the Equity and Power: EPUS requirement.

Degree requirement — Critical Perspectives: S, Equity and Power: EPUS

1 unit — Weissman

Previously Featured Offering

Foundations of Nonviolence

Oct. 2013
Instructor: Evan Weissman

GS 210: Foundations of Nonviolence looks at nonviolence as a powerful social force through the lens of philosophy, religion, art, history and science.

GS 210: Foundations of Nonviolence examines the theory and practice of nonviolence. The class looks at philosophy, religion, art, history, science and modern day practitioners in order to examine nonviolence as a powerful social force. Students will watch many films and hear guest speakers speak on a range of topics including forgiveness, restorative justice, war and its effects on humans and the planet, strategic nonviolent conflict, meditation, civil disobedience and nonviolent history. The third week of the course is spent in Baca where Kathy Kelly, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and founder of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, and Dr. Vincent Harding, Civil Rights leader and friend/speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr will join the class.

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