Richard Jackson - Resistance Studies Initiative Fall Speaker Series

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Tobin 423

Richard Jackson

Pacifism as a discursive resistance to contemporary studies in International Relations

Sponsored by The Resistance Studies Initiative

Richard Jackson, Professor of Peace Studies and Deputy Director at the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (NCPACS), University of Otago, New Zealand, has published 10 books and more than 60 articles and book chapters on critical terrorism studies, the causes of war, political violence, conflict resolution and pacifism. Recently, he published a novel entitled, Confessions of a Terrorist (2014, Zed Books), which tries to explore why someone would become a terrorist. His latest academic book is The Routledge Handbook of Critical Terrorism Studies (2016, Routledge, editor).

The theory and practice of pacifism has long been silenced and ignored in international relations, in large part because of a series of misconceptions and misrepresentations about its credibility and relevance. However, a growing body of recent research highlights the growing success of nonviolence and the decline in the efficacy of violence. In this talk, he argues that pacifist theory has a great deal to offer IR, both in terms of normative theorizing about war and the use of force, and for thinking about practical challenges such as dealing with political differences, civilian protection, peacebuilding, responding to terrorism and resistance.

Refreshments will be served
Open to all

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