Within the framework of the workshop facilitated by Dagmar Nolden and Cora Bieß of the Berghof Foundation and organized on January 25-26, 2021, a theoretical and practical study was conducted on the basic concepts in conflict resolution literature. The role of concepts such as discrimination, violence and privilege in peacebuilding was discussed with the participants.

On the first day of the workshop, facilitators shared with the participants how the concept of peace as a process was handled in theory and practice, with references to the discussions in the literature. During the workshop, which focused on discrimination, conflict, violence and privileges, the effects of these concepts on the daily lives of the participants was discussed.  

Participants tried to find answers to questions such as who is privileged, which situations can be characterized as conflict, in which areas does discrimination occur, can violence be structural and cultural.              Stating that there are different layers of peace, positive and negative, Nolden and Bieß completed the first day by discussing the obstacles and challenges to a peaceful society.

On the second day of the workshop, building on the theoretical knowledge provided on day one, group studies were carried out on topics shame, our inner voices, discrimination/privilege and conflicting values. The participants talked about in what situations they felt ashamed and how they dealt with it; what were the conflicting values and the relationship of these values with social norms; how they felt in a situation where they thought they were being discriminated against; the reaction of their inner voice in the presence of such situations and what kind of privileges they had. At the end of the workshop, participants exchanged ideas about how the privileges and inner voices discussed could be used to contribute to social peace.

For the reference materials using in the workshop please click here. 

For more information about Berghof Foundation please click here. 

This project is funded by the European Union.