Ruminations on Reconciliation

by Ethan Vesely-Flad

To little fanfare, 2009 is underway as the “International Year of Reconciliation,” as decreed by the United Nations. The 2006 resolution that sparked this observance addressed the continuing global “scourge of war” and profound need for conflict resolution efforts, and stated, in part, “…dialogue among opponents from positions of respect and tolerance is an essential element of peace and reconciliation,” and encouraged “promoting international cooperation to resolve international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues.”

At the time of its passage, that constructive language might have been perceived not merely as a call to support global conflict resolution initiatives, but also a targeted challenge to an imperialistic U.S. government. By the Bush administration’s second term, many felt it had abandoned any pretense at respectful dialogue with political opponents – either within or beyond its national borders – and despaired of permanently damaged international relationships.

We can be encouraged that the Obama administration’s first weeks have shown an ability to reclaim the model of international cooperation. Certainly, progressives should remain vigilant against a neo-liberal agenda that appears central to the new president’s foreign policy agenda, but our nation’s pariah status has been, at least, mitigated.

So, how do these positive steps reflect a “Year of Reconciliation”? The word “reconcile” can be valued as negative or positive, interestingly. On the one hand, reconciling is to cause (or force) someone to be resigned to something undesirable: to pacify or placate, to “reconcile to one’s fate.” On the other, to reconcile also means to reach amicable agreement: to settle, make compatible, or reach harmony.

In western culture, we often think of reconciliation as an outcome – a final moment where aggrieved parties come together and learn to live happily ever after. For instance, some believe that truth and reconciliation commissions (like South Africa’s TRC initiative) are linear, where an unhappy testimony leads to an amazing moment of transformation – speak your experience, and repentance will be given or relief will be found. Our views are focused on the end goal – moving past the bad stuff.

But “Reconciliation doesn’t let anybody off the hook,” according to Johannes Schot, executive director of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. Schot has spent years working in global conflict zones, and recognizes that reconciliation is not a final stage but a process that reflects lengthy, difficult approaches to creating stability, security, and trust between conflicted parties. The “Kodak moments” of former enemies embracing one another are few and far between.

This can actually be hopeful news for those of us who work to end war, militarism, and injustice. The goal of world peace is far off and will be incredibly difficult to achieve. But if we see reconciliation as, in fact, the process of social change, rather than a distant, seemingly impossible point in history, we recognize that we are making it real right here, right now. Reconciliation becomes a people-centered process, not an outcome based on the strength and intentions of powerful decision-makers.

Joseph Kip Kosek describes this participatory engagement model in his excellent new book, Acts of Conscience: Christian Nonviolence and Modern American Democracy (see review, page 41). Writing about the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Kosek says, “The group failed miserably at its central purpose – eliminating war between nations – but made nonviolent direct action a powerful new method of achieving social change.”

To that end, this issue of Fellowship features editor emeritus Richard Deats’ summary of the amazing spread of “Active Nonviolence Across the World” over the past four decades, as well as several international perspectives on reconciliation addressing Iraq, Pakistan, Palestine/Israel, the Korean peninsula, Vietnam, and other political hotspots. We invite your comments and feedback on this timely theme.