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October 7 — Discuss war — what is it good for? — with the godfather of peace studies Johan Galtung

Johan Galtung is coming to Indy. The most influential living social scientist, he is the founder of the academic study of peace and conflict studies, a discipline now offered as a major or a minor on virtually every college in America and Europe. He’s the author of more than a hundred books and more than a thousand articles. He is reported to have served as a mediator in more than 40 internaitonal conflicts. Think of one degree of seperation: if an academic uses the word “peace,” either she has read Galtung or she studied withsomeone who read Galtung. But is it all just a “peace racket”?

When and where are being decided as we speak. Make time for this event. He is coming to Indy courtesy of Klaus Finzel and the International Interfaith Initiative.

Why does Provocate think you should attend this event?
It’s Johan Galtung! No one is more important for peace studies … especially for peace studies broadly conceived, meaning not only internaitonal conflict. Local crime fighting, grade school education, green transportation, journalism … In principle, everyone every day could use the research and methods developed by Galtung.

A rough schedule for October 7:

2:00-5:00 PM at the War Memorial (nice touch) discussions with local experts and activists of several topics drawn from Galtung’s work:

2:00-3:00: Religion, civil society, & environmental stewardship — Imam Michael “Mikal” Saahir of the Nur-Allah Islamic Center; George Wolfe of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Ball State University; Rabbi Lew Weiss, Chaplain of Clarion Health; Rev. L. Lang Brownlee, University of Indianapolis Chaplain; Judith Cebula, Butler’s Center on Faith and Vocation; John Gibson, Earth Charter Indiana

3:00-4:00: Cultural diversity and education — Maria Figueroa, Refugee Research and Sources; Sven Schumacher, Lutheran Child & Family Services; Ian McIntosh, IUPUI; Kim Overdyck, Indiana Peace Center; Robert Helfenbein, Center for Urban and Multicultural Education; Pat Payne, Indianapolis Public Schools

4:00-5:00: Politics, Diplomacy, and the Media — Pierre Atlas, Marian College’s Richard G Lugar Franciscan Center for Global Studies; Siobhan McEvoy-Levy, Butler University; Abdul Hakim-Shabazz, WXNT Newsradio; Tim Swarens, Indianapolis Star; David Hoppe, NUVO

5:30-6:30 PM at the Earth House Cafe a dinner & reception

7:00 PM at the War Memorial Public discussion with Johan Galtung

The next day — after Galtung has left for his next stop in his efforts to save humanity — will feature a discussion of what canbe usefully learned form the previous days discussions. This, it seems, is the critical part of the Galtung experience.

If you think this sounds interesting, be sure to check out …
Many of the discussions at DePauw Dialogues will address war & peace, especially including Lee Hamilton and Madelaine Albright on September 19. The DePauw discussion of global journalism September 18 will parallel the peace journalism discussion with Galtung. October 15 will see discussions of the future of the American Empire and Rising Global Powers. The Peace Institute has day-long symposia that try to apply thinking inspired by Galtung to various problems, including environmental concerns September 13, US-China relations November 15, and the cost of the Iraqi war December 6. You can see some excellent films mocking militaristic thinking: Dr Strangelove August 15; the Colombian satire “Golpe de Estadio” September 4; and the Bosnian-based film “No Man’s Land” December 16.

Know before you go:
The International Interfaith Initiative has posted some recommended articles by Galtung:

Not everyone loves Galtung. Last year conservative commentator Bruce Bawer ferociously went after Galtung and the programs he has inspired in a long piece called “The Peace Racket” (and a shorter version with the same title).

And for your listening pleasure …

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