Pacifism: A Political World-View

The article gives an overview of pacifism as a political world-view. Pacifism aims at an emancipation from violent models of power. Pacifism builds on the primacy of world society and aims at reforming it towards inclusive institutions and non-violence. It can be formulated as a framework (actor, distinctions, strategies, goals). The main insight of Gandhian pacifism is that power is based on the support of a society. Thus one can dismantle systems of oppression with nonviolent resistance and construct inclusive institutions in their place. The structure of the world-view is (non-violent actor, social instututions and sources of power, non-violent resistance and constructive work, peace and inclusive institutions). Kantian pacifism aims at building supranational inclusive institutions that build on democracy, confederalism, common human rights and trade. The structure of the world-view is (peace movements and democratic states, the interface of states and world society, democracy + confederation + human rights + trade, peace and inclusive institutions. Pacifism offers an interesting contrast to neoconservatism, liberalism and realism in IR, because it connects facts and values through reformistic and melioristic political action.