Nonviolence
Twenty-five Lessons from the History of a Dangerous Idea
Kurlanski, Mark
Publisher: Modern Library
Year Published: 2006
Resource Type: Book
Cx Number: CX8170
Abstract:
Twenty-five Lessons from the History of a Dangerous Idea is an overview of the nonviolence movement tracing its beginnings in ancient India to the present. Within this context Kurlansky starts with the religious beliefs which aid the cause of nonviolence found at the core of the world's major religions. In later chapters he documents religious and secular efforts to promote nonviolence -from the American Revolution, the colonisation of the non-European world, anti slavery movements and the burgeoning peace movements in 19th America and Europe. In a more modern framework, he recounts how the successes of Ghandi have philosophically influenced Martin Luther King, civil rights, environmental movements and the Vietnam War protesters. One of his final conclusions is to show how mass protests in the former Soviet bloc was instrumental in bringing democracy to Eastern Europe and elsewhere. However Kurlansky points out that after 9/11 we have been dominated by the concept that only violence by military force will bring lasting peace.
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