Embodied Peacemaking
Date
2021
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Abstract
The dissertation explores the meaning, explanation, and implications of embodied peacemaking, its exercises and techniques, and even as a way of life, related to practice within the field of peace and conflict resolution. How can these techniques and nonverbal methods become a vital component of understanding embodiment for a peacemaker, and of finding solutions to resolve conflicts? What are they? Can they potentiate a non-verbal dialogue between those in conflict. How do they work with bodily senses, kinesthetic knowledge, and embodied intelligence to resolve intrapersonal and interpersonal conflicts? To find out, I survey and categorize embodiment techniques and practices. I include science-based validations for these experiential-based techniques, examples from my own embodied research of the training, nine interviews with professionals who work in peace and conflict resolution, a review of therapeutic-supporting literature, critical analysis, and holistic conceptual thinking. What more can we know about embodiment? I explore the findings, limitations, and implications related to embodied peacemaking among individuals and its applications within the field of peace and conflict resolution. The research will present a theoretical construct for embodied peacemaking with underlying validity, both scientifically and experientially. I will advocate for it as a necessity for the pedagogical embracement to prepare future peacemakers and as a need for more societal adoption to lessen our conflicts and increase peace. I will show how our social advancement depends upon having an ability to become more aware of our embodiment, and move as a culture to have the ability to regulate and embody the presence of peace in ourselves and among eachother. Peace and conflict resolution professionals, as the builders and makers of the solution to our problems, can embrace the embodied components of dialogue, first by becoming aware of it ourselves, in ourselves, then by teaching other peacemakers, and finally, by going into places of conflict and sharing this way to embody peace. When we get this right, and find this within ourselves, the world will change.