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| Resolving Conflict Through Non-Violence: The Gandhian Model |
File Information
| Document Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | RESOLVING CONFLICT THROUGH NON-VIOLENCE: THE GANDHIAN MODEL |
| Author | Sanchita Chakraborty (Assistant Professor, Siliguri College) |
| Subject | This article examines Mahatma Gandhi's model of conflict resolution based on non-violence (ahimsa) and truth-force (satyagraha), contrasting it with other conflict theories and illustrating its application in domestic and international disputes. |
| Category | Academic Article |
| Institution | Scholarly Research Journal for Humanity Science & English Language |
| Country of Publication | India |
| Main Topics | Gandhian philosophy of non-violence, Satyagraha as a method of conflict resolution, Conflict resolution theories, Structural violence and positive peace, Constructive programmes and constructive dissolution, Application of Gandhian model to international disputes |
| Number of Pages | 9 |
| Language | English |
| File Type | |
| File Size | 411.1 KB |
Summary Note of this Document
RESOLVING CONFLICT THROUGH NON-VIOLENCE: THE GANDHIAN MODEL
This article by Sanchita Chakraborty examines Mahatma Gandhi's model of conflict resolution, which is rooted in the principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and satyagraha (truth-force). The author argues that Gandhi's approach offers a transformative and sustainable alternative to violent conflict resolution, emphasizing moral persuasion, empathy, and dialogue over coercion. The article situates Gandhi's ideas within the broader field of conflict resolution, discussing the contributions of thinkers such as Lewis Coser, Johan Galtung, John Burton, Edward Azar, and John Paul Lederach. It highlights Gandhi's multi-dimensional strategy, which combines direct action to address behavioral and attitudinal aspects of conflict with constructive programmes aimed at resolving underlying structural issues. The concept of 'constructive dissolution' is presented as a method to eliminate the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, discrimination, and social injustice. The article also provides examples of Gandhian principles in practice, including the resolution of the Ganges water dispute between India and Bangladesh and the symbolic fall of the Berlin Wall. Ultimately, the author contends that nonviolence is the only sustainable path to lasting peace, as it addresses the deeper causes of conflict and fosters reconciliation and universal brotherhood.
Core Themes
- Non-violence as a conflict resolution strategy
- Satyagraha and truth-force
- Structural violence and positive peace
- Constructive programmes and social reform
- Comparative conflict theories
Keywords
About Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi lived from 1869 to 1948. Born in India, he trained as a lawyer and became a political thinker. Colonial rule repelled him. He opposed it fiercely and eventually led India’s independence movement.
Gandhi pioneered Satyagraha, the power of truth and nonviolent resistance. He put these ideals into practice during political and social upheavals. Over twenty years in South Africa shaped his thinking. That’s where he developed his tactics of nonviolent defiance. He returned to India in 1915 and launched major movements against British rule. Non-Cooperation Movement. Salt March. Quit India Movement. Each one challenged colonial domination.
In 1883 he married Kasturba Gandhi. Marriage and family life remained central to who he was. He spoke powerfully about his beliefs. His writing included Hind Swaraj, Satyagraha in South Africa, and The Story of My Experiments with Truth, his autobiography.
His vision stretched beyond political independence. Religious harmony mattered to him. Social equality. Self-reliance. Women’s rights. Ending untouchability. All of these were part of what he fought for.
Nonviolence and Satyagraha shaped movements worldwide. Civil rights activists drew from his example. Freedom struggles across the globe felt his influence. His approach changed how people thought about resistance and change.
Complete Gandhi Research Collection
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